Attorneys for nine New Jersey high school football players are reviewing whether to make a last-ditch effort to have their suspensions lifted so they can play in a championship game on Saturday.

Acting state Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf upheld the suspensions of the Wayne Hills High School players on Friday,  saying they failed to demonstrate their appeal was likely to succeed. That echoed a judge's ruling on Thursday.

Attorney George Abdy says the decision could still be appealed to a state Superior Court judge.

The players were charged with assault after a brawl at an off-campus party in October in which two students from a rival school were injured. Attorneys claim they were punished without due process.

Wayne Hills is scheduled to play Saturday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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