ACTION NEWS 4 REPORTER ASHYLE ZILKA, JOINS US LIVE NOW WITH MORE. THIS HEARING LASTED HOURS TODAY. ASHLEY: THE HEARING LASTED FOR MORE THAN 90 MINUTES. IT WAS SCHEDULED FOR ONLY 45. THE ALIQUIPPA SCHOOL DISTRICT WON ITS SECOND APPEAL. I TALKED WITH THE SUPENTRIENDENT RIGHT AFTER HE LEARNED OFHE T RULING. >> I WAS ACTUALLY VERY SURPRISED AND EXCITED THAT THE PAIA GRANTED US A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA TIME TO GET OUR POINT ACRO. ASHLEY: IT WAS A BIG WIN FOR ALIQUIPPA, AFTER FIGHTING TO ST IAYN CLASS 4A AND FOOTBALL. THE PIAA BOARD OF DIRECTORS DEMA THE DECISION AFTER HEARING POWERFUL TESTIMONY FROM THE DISTRICT AND NFL HALL OF FAMER AND ALIQUIPPA ALUM TY LAW. Y.ES>> WE DO HAVE A LOT OF TALENT THERE. WE HAVE SOME TALENT THAT CAME OUT OF THERE. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT ETH PURE NUMBS,ER WE ARE AN ANOMAL IN A SENSE. ASHLEY: DESPITE HAVING A CLASS 1A ENROLLMENT, THE TEAM WOULD HAVE BEEN FORCED TO COMPETE IN 5A UNDER THE PIA COMPETITIVE-BALANCE RULE. >> WHEN YOU GOT 811 STUDENTS, MALE STUDENTS CTOHOOSE FROM, AND THEN YOU ARE COMPETING AGAINST ANOTHER SCHOOL THAT HAS 500 STUDENTS TO CHOOSEM,RO F IT’S JUST NOT LOGICAL. ASHLEY: IN PREVIOUS YEARS, THE QUIPS HAD VOLUNTARILY AGREED TO PLAY UP TO 3A FOR MORE COMPETITION, BUT THEY WERE EVENTUALLY FORCED TO COMPETE IN 4A BASED ON THE PIAA FORMU.LA >> WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO OVERCOME INJURIES, WE WERE ABLE TO OVERMECO FATIGUE AND WEAR AND TEAR, AND WE SUCCESSFULLY WON THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. ASHLEY: WOODS SAID PLAYER SAFETY WAS A MAIN CONCERN, A SMALL SCHOOL GOING AGAINST A 5A TEAM. >> BUT THE DIFFERENCE IS TREHE IS 11 OFFSEEN, 11 DEFENSE, 11 SPECIAL TEAMS. ASHLEY: THE SUPERINTENDENT ALSO ARGUED ECONOMIC DISPARITES. >> THERE ARE LEVELS FOR REASONS. THERE ARE BUDGETS FOR REASS.ON YOU CAN’T GO INTO A 1A FACILITY AND GO INTO A 6A, 5A FACILITY AND THINK YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THE SAME EQUIPMENTND A RESOURCES. ASHLEY: THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE WPIAL RELEASEAD STATEMENT, SAYING IN PART, WE ARE PLEASED TO SEE THAT THE WHOLE SITUATION WAS REVIEWED AND A HUMAN ELEMENT ADDED TO THE DECISION. AS FOR WOODS, HE’S NOW LOOKING TO T FUTURHE >> I AM SAD THAT WE HAD TO GO THIS FAR, BUT I AM SATISFIED WITH THE OUTCOME. ASHLEY: WE REACHED OUT TOHE T AAPI EARLIER TONIGHT, BUT WE HAVE YET TO HEAR BACK. THIS RUL