People in Illinois are torn over the outcome of a high school football game

People in the suburbs of Chicago are outraged over the outcome of a high school football game.

An Illinois high school football game has extended from the gridiron to the court room with a controversial outcome of a game possibly robbing one school of a state championship appearance.

Last Saturday Plainfield North High School and Fenwick faced off in a semifinal playoff game. Fenwick appeared to have the game locked up with a 10–7 lead as time was about to expire. With time expiring, Fenwick’s quarterback attempted a throw that officials called intentional grounding before handing the ball over to Plainfield North for one last play. They successfully made a game-tying field goal and then beat Fenwick in overtime.

The result was appealed by Fenwick to the Illinois High School Association, who admitted that the officials made an error but could not change the outcome of the game. Next came a hearing with a Cook County Circuit Court judge, who rejected the bid to overturn the loss.

Plainfield North will face East St. Louis on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign for the Class 7A Championship.

Illinois Twitter has been buzzing over the decision:

So it's official. Referees have the power to extend games even when they are over and no one can do a damn thing about it!

— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) November 23, 2016

No they shouldn't. https://t.co/TBE14Jz2P9

— Nick Shepkowski (@NickShepkowski) November 23, 2016

"I wish there was a way that Fenwick could participate in the game but there's not," IHSA says. "Sometimes the law is not fair"

— Steve Schmadeke (@SteveSchmadeke) November 23, 2016

Fenwick got robbed, smh😔😔

— Doug (Taylor’s Version) (@guod45) November 23, 2016

Expert teams in blowing leads pic.twitter.com/U5rs1CYKfE

— CM Pulk (@pulkitsaini04) November 20, 2016

My takeaway is still the cowardice of the adults at #IHSA.

— Pat Heslin (@patheslin) November 23, 2016

I'm not trying to bag on Fenwick and hindsight is 20/20 but why not just run around and take a safety?

— Hokies Well Rated (@RickyJDiaz7) November 23, 2016

So it's official. Referees have the power to extend games even when they are over and no one can do a damn thing about it!

— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) November 23, 2016

Maybe the ref works for Buffalo Wild Wings. That's the only explanation that makes sense.

— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) November 23, 2016

So after all that, Fenwick isn’t going to the state title game. Judge rejects the motion. Unfortunate, but hard to think this would change.

— Bato (@RealMattBarbato) November 23, 2016

For some perspective, high school games are a festival of mistake-making: refs, coaches, players, then maybe I tweet out a wrong score.

— Michael O'Brien (@michaelsobrien) November 23, 2016

Fenwick screwed by the game officials but happens a lot in sports. I believe PN should have given them spot but they didn't. Time to move on

— David Kaplan (@thekapman) November 23, 2016

While refs were wrong, the Fenwick coach said he told QB to throw the ball deep to run off clock cuz that's what they do in Arena league!

— jon greenberg (@jon_greenberg) November 23, 2016

Agreed -- would have been a great teaching moment for Plainfield North to give the spot to Fenwick. Oh well. https://t.co/Wk44ZKg3eT

— Wayne Drehs (@W_Drehs) November 23, 2016

Let's see what craziness the championship game may bring.