TRENTON — Head coach Charlie Gallagher called it the worst news that he’s ever had to deliver to a football team.

Princeton High, despite being in the midst of one of its best seasons this century, won’t be going to the state playoffs.

That’s because the Tigers are disqualified as a result of the NJSIAA’s 3-team DQ rule, which states: “Any varsity team accumulating three or more player or coach disqualifications prior to the team’s participation in the state tournament will not be permitted to participate in the state tournament. The 3-team DQ rule is not applicable during participation in the state tournament.”

Princeton had one player ejected from the season opener against Lawrence and two against Nottingham last Saturday, so that removed the Tigers from the South Jersey Group IV picture, despite coming into this week with the No. 7 UPR.

Normally the top-16 teams qualify, and Princeton was on track to get a first-round home game.

“It is what it is,” Gallagher said after Princeton’s 27-14 loss to Trenton on Friday dropped the Tigers to 6-2. “Our administration reached out to the NJSIAA, and obviously the response is I think the same as it would be for any team — that there are no appeals.”

Asked if he thinks it’s too harsh to not let a team into the state tournament because of three disqualifications during the season, Gallagher took the high road.

“There’s a lot of cool and calm and intelligent heads that put that together, and if they thought it was too harsh, they would’ve added an extra DQ in,” Gallagher said. “And if they thought it was too easy, maybe they would’ve made it two DQs. It’s a combination of all ADs and obviously all the NJSIAA personnel that come up with those rules.”

Gallagher said they got together with the school’s athletic director, Brian Dzbenski, to devise “a plan moving forward” in terms of discipline because they want this to be a learning experience for the players.

At the same time, Gallagher doesn’t believe that what happened this season is reflective of his program. In his 12 previous seasons combined as Princeton’s head coach, the Tigers only had one disqualification.

“I think this was an anomaly,” Gallagher said. “People say, ‘Oh, it was a shame because you were doing so well.’ It could’ve happened if we were 0-7. It just so happened we were 6-1. Does it stink? Yeah, of course it stinks. The players are terribly disheartened.”

Still, the Tigers won’t let the lack of a postseason take away from their excellent season.

Throughout the fall, the program beat Allentown for the first time in 20 years, Hamilton West for the first time in 11 years, and Nottingham for the first time in 16 years.

If it beats West Windsor-Plainsboro next Friday, Princeton will finish with seven wins for the first time in 11 years. And last year marked its first playoff berth since that 8-2 season in 2014.

Gallagher is excited about the future because the program had 28 freshmen come out this year, and the JV team has won five games.

It won’t be an easy transition after graduating key seniors such as Carmine Carusone, Ellinton Hinds, Andrew Foreman and Zyair Mackey-Wright. But Princeton has plenty new and returning talent to help the program get back into position for a postseason berth next year.

“We’re gonna have to find a way to replace those guys,” Gallagher said. “We lose a lot of skill guys. Our offensive line actually comes back fully, so we’re excited about that stuff. D-line, our quarterback is gonna be back. So we’ve got some pieces, and then we have some good young guys. So I’m excited for them. I’m excited to finish off a really good season next week on Friday, and then I’m excited for next season. It’s a shame it can’t come sooner.”

Originally Published: October 18, 2025 at 8:03 AM EDT