Canton needs a win and some help to get a shot at the football playoffs

Canton is still alive for the eighth and final spot in the CIAC’s Class S football tournament. But a lot of things have to break correctly for the Warriors to get an opportunity to play a record 12th game this season. 

Farmington (8-2) hopes to claim its first CIAC playoff spot since 1999 with a win over Plainville on Thanksgiving. The Indians have just missed the playoffs the past two seasons.

First, Canton (7-3) needs to defeat Granby (5-5) on Thanksgiving Eve at 6:30 p.m. on the road. A loss ends Canton’s playoff hopes. 

Second, Wolcott High (7-3) needs to beat Holy Cross (7-3) on Thanksgiving morning at 10:30 a.m. The Crusaders are currently ranked No. 9 in the Class S rankings and the top eight teams qualify for the tournament.  

Third and most importantly, Coginchaug (8-2) needs to lose to Cromwell (4-6) on Thanksgiving morning in a 10 a.m. game in Cromwell.

With a victory, Coginchaug clinches the eighth and final spot in the playoffs. It’s just the fourth varsity season for the Blue Devils, who were once part of a co-op program with Vinal Tech in Middletown until the program had to split because there were too many players from Coginchaug in the program. 

It will be a challenge for Cromwell to beat Coginchaug, which knows that a win will give them their first-ever playoff berth. Cromwell has lost five straight and their starting quarterback Mavris Pelletier has been hurt. Pelletier threw for over 1,200 yards and eight TD passes in Cromwell’s first six games. But he turned an ankle early on the first series to Avon on Nov. 16 and missed last week’s game against North Branford. 

Like all teams, Canton also gets 10 bonus points for victories by teams that Canton beat during the regular season. For example, Canton picked up 80 points because Avon went 8-3 and the Warriors beat Avon.

If Cromwell upsets Coginchaug and Holy Cross loses, it will come down to bonus points with Canton and Coginchaug for the eighth playoff spot. The Warriors will be rooting for Enfield to beat SMSA/University and Coventry/Windham Tech/Bolton to beat Ellington to pick up 20 additional bonus points. Coginchaug will be rooting for Lewis Mills to beat Nonnewaug for some additional bonus points.

Farmington’s path to the playoffs isn’t set in stone but the Indians need to beat Plainville (4-5) to have a shot. The Indians are currently ranked seventh with the top eight earning a bid to the Class L tournament. With a victory, they should be OK. In the last two seasons, Farmington finished ninth in the rankings.

You can see the CIAC rankings here.
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