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Detroit PSL Football Championship game between Detroit King and Cass Tech ruled a forfeit
On Monday afternoon, the Detroit Public School League announced on its Facebook page that the PSL Football Championship game between Detroit Martin Luther King and Detroit Cass Tech, that was originally scheduled to be played on Friday, October 23rd at Ford Field at 7:00 pm has been ruled as a forfeit victory for Detroit Cass Tech.
Here is the full statement as announced on the Detroit Public School League Facebook Page:
“BREAKING NEWS: The Detroit Public School League Division 1 Football Championship Game, scheduled for 7:00 pm Friday, Oct. 23 at Ford Field has been deemed a Cass Tech 6-0 forfeit victory against King in the aftermath of King’s involvement in an on-field brawl last Friday (Oct. 16) following its 20-2 PSL D1 semifinal victory against Cody.
Cody’s football team has been suspended for the rest of the season and its coaching staff has been placed on indefinite suspension.
The PSL Division 2 football championship game, originally scheduled for 4 pm Oct. 23 at Ford Field, will be played at 6 p.m. at Ford Field between unbeaten DCP-Northwestern (7-0 PSL, 8-0 overall) and Central (6-1 PSL, 6-2 overall). With the forfeit, both Cass Tech and King will finish with the regular season records of 7-1 PSL, 8-1 overall.”
Earlier this season, Detroit King topped Cass Tech, 31-28 in overtime.
Cass Tech has now won each of the last four Public School League Titles. King last won a PSL title in 2012.
This will be the first time the Detroit Public School League Championship Game will not be played.
Cass Tech coach Thomas Wilcher said he’s disappointed his team won’t play for the PSL title but he supports Alvin Ward, the director of athletics for the Detroit Public Schools, and his decision to cancel the final.
“The most important thing is the welfare of the child,” Wilcher said. “(Ward) has to evaluate the entire picture. Sometimes you have to do that.
“If you look at past history, you have to put your foot down. I agree with Ward because he made a tough decision. I don’t agree of not letting us play. But you have to think of the welfare of the child.
“Ward called it a brawl. Ward stood up for the district. We want to [play for the title. We want to defend our title. What’s been said is final. Ward is pretty upset. He said (the brawl) was the worst he’s seen. There comes a time when you got to put your foot down.”
State Champs! Network has reached out to both Detroit King head coach Dale Harvel and PSL Executive Director of Athletics Alvin Ward.
Detroit King has hired an attorney and will appeal the decision by the League to have King forfeit the game.
Stay tuned to State Champs! for more on this developing story.
