The Windsor football team has won its Class MM quarterfinal game by forfeit after its opponent, Northwest United, informed the CIAC Saturday that the team did not have enough healthy players to compete in Tuesday’s game.
Undefeated Windsor, the top-ranked team in the Courant state coaches poll and top seed in Class MM, will play the winner of the Wethersfield-Newington quarterfinal on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. at Windsor in the Class MM semifinal game.
“The kids are disappointed,” Windsor coach Rob Fleeting said. “We got official word this morning. We’re just trying to stay focused and keep the guys going. We’ll be OK. We can watch more film and get better at things we need to get better at.”
Windsor’s last game was a 20-0 win over Bloomfield on Nov. 23.
Northwest United, a co-op team comprised of players from Wolcott Tech, Lakeview, Nonnewaug and Shepaug Valley, was the eighth seed in Class MM. The team was 9-1, losing only its last game on Nov. 27, 42-7, to the Abbott Tech/Immaculate co-op.
“Upon notification, the CIAC executive director, associate executive director, football committee chair and football tournament director discussed all possible scenarios and met with the CIAC football committee Sunday,” the CIAC stated in an email. “The CIAC determined that filling the spot with another team and asking Windsor and the new team to prepare for a different opponent with only two days notice could compromise the safety of the student-athletes.”
NW United football coach Jennifer Stango Garzone said in an email to parents that the team has suffered injuries over the course of the season and additional season-ending injuries occurred to players last Wednesday.
“I became concerned that to play Tuesday would put Junior Varsity players into a Varsity game with little to no Varsity playing time experience,” Garzone wrote to the players and families. “Putting players into that type of situation increases the chance for injuries. This is not a risk I was willing to take.”
She added: “This decision was not made lightly. My coaches and I recognize the hard work, dedication and competitive spirit that brought the Workhorses to this point, especially due to the adversity that the team has overcome, and it is disappointing to conclude our season under these circumstances. However, the Coaches and I firmly believe that prioritizing the well-being of our players is the right course of action.
“There are times in football where ‘taking a knee’ is the proper play call toward the end of a half or game and it is done to ensure a safe conclusion without risking a turnover or injury. Sadly, we are forced to take a knee.”
Fans who purchased tickets will be issued a refund, the CIAC said.
