Middletown school district takes fight to save undefeated football team’s season to court

Middletown’s undefeated football team didn’t give up on the field this season — and now they’re refusing to give up their fight for a championship off it.

School response and safety measures

Their championship dreams were shattered by an eligibility mistake made by adults, but the players are still practicing, hoping a judge will give them one more shot.

News 12 has confirmed that Justice Verris B. Shako has been assigned to the case.

“After we told those kids everything was lost, the entire season, it was a really, really rough day,” said Isaac Cayetano, an assistant coach for Middletown’s varsity football team, in a video posted to TikTok.

School response and investigation

The Middletown school district filed an emergency petition Wednesday in Orange County Supreme Court asking a judge to overturn a Section IX decision that knocked the team out of Saturday’s championship game against Newburgh.

A hearing date and time have not yet been set, but court officials tell News 12 the case could be heard as early as Friday, November 13, just one day before the championship.

News 12 is monitoring the court calendar for further developments.

After making history with their first undefeated regular season in 65 years, the Middies are fighting for a chance to finish what they started.