Judge Upholds Suspension of Wayne Football Players

A judge has upheld the suspensions of nine New Jersey high school football players who are seeking to play in a state championship game Saturday.

Attorneys for the players from Wayne Hills High School and the Wayne school district argued the case before Administrative Law Judge Ellen Bass in Newark Thursday.

Bass upheld the suspensions and will forward her finding to the state's education commissioner for a final decision. 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 and asked that the suspensions be lifted pending the resolution of the criminal case.

Wayne Hills plays in a sectional championship game Saturday at MetLife Stadium.