If Plainfield North wants to do the right thing, they should step down and let Fenwick play in the IHSA Class 7A title game on Saturday.
Plainfield North earned a date with East St. Louis in the 7A championship contest after a controversial come-from-behind victory over Fenwick last weekend.
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The Friars had a 10-7 lead over Plainfield North with four seconds remaining in the fourth quarter when Fenwick quarterback Jacob Keller launched a pass downfield as time expired. Following the play, the referees called intentional grounding and rewarded Plainfield North an untimed down. Plainfield North kicked a 22-yard field goal to tie the game and then went on to defeat Fenwick, 18-17, in overtime.
Following the game, the IHSA released a statement admitting the call was incorrect.
“IHSA by-law 6.033 clearly states that, ‘the decisions of game officials shall be final; protests against the decision of a game official shall not be reviewed by the Board of Directors.’ Given that rule, the contest result shall remain final with Plainfield North advancing to the Class 7A State Championship.”
After not having their appeal heard over the decision, Fenwick has decided to take the ISHA to court.
On Monday's edition of SportsTalk Live, Sun Times Bears reporter Adam Jahns weighed in on the IHSA's ruling.
"As a private school kid who went to Notre Dame High School there's always that perception that the IHSA is sticking it to the private schools," Jahns said. "I'm telling you, in the circles I talk to, this is the IHSA sticking it to another private school for making it to this point."
The messy situation between Fenwick and the IHSA could be avoided if Plainfield North were to step down from the Class 7A title game.
"Plainfield North should do the right thing and tell Fenwick 'you won the game fair and square, and we're letting you go play in the state championship game,'" David Kaplan said on SportsTalk Live. "That would be classy sportsmanship."
David Haugh added: "They should do the right thing and they should have rewarded Fenwick the victory because they earned the victory. There is no domino effect to reversing that call," David Haugh said.
The case will be heard on Wednesday at 9 a.m. in Cook County Chancery Court.