The Bothell High School football team will be one of eight teams to play in the 2013 Emerald City Kickoff Classic during the event’s return to Seattle, Sept. 7 at the newly renovated Husky Stadium.

In addition to featuring the reigning 3A (Bellevue) and 4A (Skyline) State Champion in a preseason showdown, the Kickoff Classic will also feature the Cougars taking on the Coeur d’Alene Vikings (Idaho), the Lynden Lions battling the King’s Knights and the Roosevelt Roughriders meeting the Seattle Prep Panthers.

“The return of the Kickoff Classic to Seattle at the brand new Husky Stadium with the four match-ups will be a great Saturday,” Washington Interscholastic Activities Association Executive Director Mike Colbrese said. “Our thanks to the University of Washington for hosting this annual event.”

The Bothell Cougars were a State semifinal team in 2009 and a quarterfinal team in 2010. The Cougars have played in three Kickoff Classic games with a record of 1-2. They will get a shot at one of the premier teams from neighboring Idaho. Coeur d’Alene was the 5A (the largest Idaho classification) runner-up in 2012 and State Champions in 2010 and 2011. Coeur d’Alene are making their second trip to the Kickoff Classic after a 32-14 victory over Moses Lake in 2011.

For the first nine years of the event, Century Link/Qwest Field hosted the Kickoff Classic. However, with scheduling conflicts in 2012 and 2013, the game has moved locations. Last year, the Kickoff Classic was played at Roos Field in Cheney.

This year’s edition will be the second event held at the new Husky Stadium. The Washington Huskies home opener against Boise State Broncos will be the first game played at the new state-of-the-art venue on August 31.

Fans will get an early opportunity to view the first class facility. Tickets for the event are $15 for adults, while students and senior citizens are $10. The ticket includes all four games.

For more information visit the WIAA Web site here.

2013 ECKC Schedule

10 a.m. Seattle Prep vs. Roosevelt;

1 p.m. King’s vs. Lynden;

4 p.m. Coeur d’Alene vs. Bothell; and

7 p.m. Skyline vs. Bellevue.