The First Academy’s football team will have to wait another year to pursue a state championship.
Orange County Judge Margaret H. Schreiber dissolved The First Academy’s temporary emergency injunction during a hearing on Nov. 10. It effectively means that the program’s postseason ban remains in place.
Schreiber signed an order to temporarily lift The First Academy’s postseason ban on Nov. 6 and set a hearing for a permanent decision on Nov. 10.
Indian Rocks Christian, which now officially is the No. 8 seed in Region 2-1A, previously filed a motion for the court to intervene in the situation and uphold the postseason ban.
The FHSAA handed The First Academy a two-year postseason ban and other sanctions on Nov. 1, 2024 for allowing 10 student-athletes to participate in football activities before being enrolled at the school. The FHSAA also cited the school for recruiting violations.
The Royals did not participate in the playoffs in 2024.
The First Academy went 5-5 this season was ranked No. 13 on the final USA TODAY Florida Network Super 25.
More to come on this developing story.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Judge doesn’t rule in The First Academy’s favor, Indian Rocks Christian in FHSAA playoffs
Reporting by Jon Santucci, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
