Although Middletown beat Liberty during the high school football playoffs in Maryland on Friday, it is the losing team that will advance. The victors were forced to retroactively forfeit the win for playing an ineligible athlete in the game.
Their season is now over.
This surprising announcement changes the entire landscape of high school football in the Old Line State. One of the top programs on the 2A/1A level cannot play for a state championship.
Middletown beat Liberty.
Middletown High School is located in Middletown, Maryland, approximately 57 miles west of Baltimore. Liberty High School is located in Eldersberg, Maryland, right in the middle of Middletown and Baltimore.
The Knights finished the regular season at 7-2. The Lions finished at 5-4.
They both won their regional first round games to meet in the second round last Friday.
Middletown defeated Liberty by a final score of 51-7. It was a blowout. The Knights advanced to the state quarterfinal. The Lions saw their season come to an end.
The high school football playoffs in Maryland have changed.
Now five days later, things are flipped. Liberty will advance. Middletown will not.
The Knights self-reported a violation to the state’s governing body for high school athletics, the Maryland Public Secondary School Athletic Association. They “inadvertently” used an ineligible player during the first round of the playoffs. The resulting punishment was a forfeiture of the game.
Neither head coach Collin Delauter nor athletic director Karin Bauer chose to comment. Middletown High School released the following statement:
“We recognize that this news is disappointing for our student-athletes, families and community. Please know that our foremost priority is to uphold the principles of integrity, sportsmanship and full compliance with FCPS and state athletic guidelines.
“It was recently discovered that an ineligible MHS student-athlete inadvertently participated in the game. Upon identifying the issue, the school immediately reported the concern to FCPS.”
Playoff games in the state of Maryland are not eligible for appeal. This ruling is final.
The Lions had their season come to an end on Friday. They are now back in. Wouldn’t it be something if they can make a run after already being knocked out?! Liberty will play at Hereford at 6:30 p.m. EST on Friday.
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Maryland High School Football Team Thrust Back Into Playoffs On Just Five Days Notice After Scandal
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