A state Superior Court judge has deferred ruling on a lawsuit by nine Wayne, N.J., high school football players seeking to overturn suspensions and play in a state championship game this weekend.

Instead, the case will be argued Thursday afternoon before an administrative law judge in Newark, whose finding will be forwarded to the state education commissioner for final approval.

The suspensions stem from an off-campus brawl last month. Police charged the nine with assault.  Attorneys for the players say they were punished arbitrarily and without due process. They've asked for the suspensions to be lifted pending the resolution of the criminal case.

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

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

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