The First Academy’s football season may have come to an abrupt end Monday afternoon after a state judge declined to uphold an 11th-hour temporary injunction that would have allowed the Orlando private school to participate in the 2025 FHSAA state playoffs, which begin Thursday.
Depending on when a new hearing is scheduled, the ruling could freeze the Royals out of postseason play for the second straight year and affirm a two-year ban issued by the Florida High School Athletic Association on Nov. 1, 2024.
Judge Margaret H. Schreiber of the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court ruled that the plaintiffs, a group of TFA parents and players, did not meet the legal standard required for an injunction. She agreed with the FHSAA’s argument that the original complaint should have been filed in Alachua County — where the FHSAA executive offices are located. She also said the FHSAA can transfer the case to the proper venue in Alachua County. However, it seems unlikely that a new temporary injunction in favor of TFA would be approved by the time the FHSAA releases the Class 1A Region 2 bracket prior to the playoff game, which would likely be Friday.
“I am transferring this case to Alachua County,” Scheiber said. “I am also vacating the emergency temporary injunction that was entered (last) Thursday because I believe the appropriate place to address any emergency relief is in Alachua County. I don’t believe it is necessary or appropriate to move forward with any evidentiary hearing at this time.”
The decision came during what was supposed to be an evidentiary hearing, but quickly turned into nearly an hourlong video conference in which FHSAA attorney Leonard Ireland successfully argued that the complaint should have been filed in Alachua County. After the judge agreed with FHSAA, the evidentiary hearing never actually took place.
TFA’s postseason fate has been uncertain since Nov. 5, when Schreiber verbally granted an emergency injunction but hesitated to sign the order after FHSAA attorneys filed motions to dismiss or move the case. The lack of a signed order forced the FHSAA to release all state brackets last Thursday except for those in Class 1A, Region 2, which were held pending Monday’s ruling.
TFA’s lead attorney Paul Aloise Jr. has argued that the FHSAA issued “egregious and arbitrary” punishments after determining that 10 student-athletes participated in football activities before they were enrolled at the school and that the program committed multiple recruiting violations. The Royals did not play in last year’s postseason while the case remained under review.
Aloise has said the penalties far exceeded those imposed in other cases, including those involving Miami Northwestern, Gadsden County and Nease.
The FHSAA’s Ireland has rejected that argument, saying the association considered all evidence during the investigative and appeals processes and that the board unanimously upheld the sanctions. “The bylaws clearly state that decisions of the board of directors are final,” Ireland said.
Complicating matters, Indian Rocks Christian, the school that would miss the playoffs if TFA was reinstated, filed a lawsuit in Orange County asking the court to uphold the FHSAA ruling to keep the IRC team in the playoff bracket.
Shortly after the court decision was made the FHSAA posted first round playoff matchups for 1A Region 2. Indian Rocks is booked to play No. 2 seed Clearwater Central Catholic on Friday night. Orlando Christian Prep (6-4) will play at Melbourne Central Catholic (2-7) in a rematch of a regular season game won by MCC.
Although the TFA finished 5-5, the Royals were considered to be one of the best teams in the state. TFA primarily played a national schedule filled with powerhouses from other states.
The case has drawn statewide attention in recent days as the unusual schedule of rulings left FHSAA administrators, coaches and competing schools unsure whether TFA would be eligible. Some coaches had expressed concern that including or excluding TFA this late could reshape the 1A playoff bracket.
