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Forfeit high school football
On Friday, the Middletown High School football team in New York saw its undefeated season come to an end in the Section IX Class AA players. Except the season didn’t end with a loss, and it also didn’t end with a championship.
Instead, what was shaping up to be one of the most memorable seasons in the history of the school, which was built in 1959, ended in the most anticlimactic fashion imaginable.
The Middle Bears were disqualified from the postseason after the school district withdrew its emergency court petition on Friday to reverse the disqualification.
New York High School Football Team Disqualified For Fielding Ineligible Player
As it turns out, the Middies used a kicker, who was later ruled an “ineligible kickoff specialist,” for a grand total of 53 seconds in their 48-15 semifinal playoff win against Valley Central on Nov. 6 without meeting a postseason eligibility requirement.
Supreme Court Justice Verris Shako handed down the decision after a nearly two-hour hearing at the Orange County Courthouse in Goshen.
“There are tough decisions that have to be made at times,” Shako said.
According to reports, the player in question previously competed on Middletown’s soccer team and did not score on the football team, though he reportedly participated in eight kickoffs.
Local rules state that players are not eligible to compete in multiple sports within the same season.
“While we are deeply, deeply disappointed that we are unable to find a remedy for our young people, our hearts are with our football team and cheerleading scholars who have given so much to this remarkable football season and cheerleading season,” Middletown superintendent Amy Creeden said of the outcome.
“We pursued this matter vigorously because we believe our young people deserved our full advocacy,” she added. “We have work to do. Our focus now is on supporting them and their families.”
Middletown had posted a perfect 10-0 record before the ruling, with nine of their victories coming by double digits. Officially, their playoff “win” against Valley Central will now be deemed a loss.
“In our hearts, our record is still 10 and 0. We are so proud of our championship team,” Creeden said. “We are Middletown. When we get knocked down, we get back up again, and we are stronger. We cannot wait to come back next season.”