Middletown football team out of championship after district withdraws court challenge

New developments this morning, a last ditch effort to save Middletown's undefeated football season is heading to court today. Our Blaise Gomez has more on the team's fight to get back in the game. Let us play! Let us play! They're still practicing and refusing to give up. After we told those kids that the entire season was lost, it was a really, really, really rough day. That was Monday, but within an hour, these undefeated Middletown High School players were back on the field. They really showed up, came back like, yo, we need a ball. We want to take back what y'all have taken from us. And while the student-athletes keep fighting on the field, their district is taking the battle to court. The team was disqualified from Saturday's championship. After court filings show a kicker who didn't score played 53 seconds in a playoff game without meeting a postseason eligibility rule. I don't know why I should be punished for it. Higher-up mistakes. The district admits the mistake, but wants a less harsh penalty. New York judges have overturned athletic eligibility decisions before, but Middletown admits the rule was broken, which could make its argument tougher. Hashtag free Middletown. Let us win! It's a Hail Mary for Middletown, and now their season rests with a judge. In Goshen, Orange County, Blaise Gomez, News 12. Section 9 and the state's High School Athletic Association have filed court papers opposing Middletown's request. An emergency hearing is set for 2 p.m. in Goshen, just one day before the Section 9 championship. Now, Blaise Gomez is following these very latest developments, and of course, we will have everything you need to know about what happens next and what happens in court. You can see our extended coverage of this story on our website, news12.com.