The CIAC has ruled that the Berlin football team must forfeit seven games that they won earlier this year for violations of CIAC rules.
AVON – The Berlin High football team has been hit hard by the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) for violations of CIAC rules. Caught in the backwash of sanctions against the Redcoat football program is Avon, which will see its hopes to qualifying for the Class L football tournament damaged.
The CIAC Board of Control voted Wednesday to accept a self-report from Berlin High for violations of CIAC rules by its football team.
The team is ordered to forfeit all seven wins for the use of four ineligible players and is banned from the 2015 CIAC tournament. The football team is now on probation for one year and is the school was fined $4,000 — $1,000 for each ineligible player.
The ineligible athletes are permanently ineligible to compete in athletics if they remain at Berlin. If the students transfer to another CIAC school, they are ineligible to participate in sports for the remainder of this 2015-16 school year and 50 percent of the fall 2016 season – in essence, a one-year ban.
How does this hurt Avon? The Falcons (7-2) are trying to be one of the top eight teams to qualify for the Class L tournament. First, Avon has to beat Simsbury on Tuesday, Nov. 24 to keep their hopes alive.
Teams earn points for their victories and earn bonus points for wins by teams they have beaten. Because Avon beat Berlin, 21-14 on October 23, Avon would have received 10 points for each of Berlin’s seven wins (70 points). However, Avon also beat five teams that received forfeit wins from Berlin (Fermi, Rockville, Northwest Catholic, Plainville and Tolland) so Avon collects 10 points or 50 points for those wins over Berlin.
In a nutshell, Avon lost 20 points due to the Berlin decision.
Avon is vying with Middletown (8-1) and Notre Dame-West Haven (7-2) for the final two playoff spots in Class L. Avon cannot catch Notre Dame even with a win over Simsbury and a loss by Notre Dame.
So it comes down to Avon and Middletown. The Falcons face Simsbury (1-8) in its regular season finale. On Thanksgiving, Middletown travels to face No. 4 Windsor (9-0).
With a win over Simsbury, Avon would have 1,030 points. If Middletown beats Windsor, they earn the playoff berth – end of story. However, if Windsor wins, Avon would still be alive – barely.
Even with a loss to Windsor, Middletown with have 1,060 points. So, it will come down to bonus points. And the odds stack up in Middletown’s favor.
Avon has the opportunity to earn bonus points in seven games while Middletown has the opportunity to earn bonus points in six games.
Avon can earn points with
Fermi (1-8) beating Bloomfield (8-1)
Northwest Catholic (4-5) beating East Catholic (7-2)
Berlin (0-9) beating New Britain (5-4)
Rockville (3-6) beating South Windsor (3-6)
Tolland (3-6) defeating E.O. Smith (4-5)
Rocky Hill (7-2) defeating Cromwell/Portland (8-1)
Plainville (4-5) defeating Farmington (3-6)
Middletown can earn additional points with
South Windsor (3-6) beating Rockville (3-6)
E.O. Smith (4-5) beating Tolland (3-6)
Farmington (3-6) beating Plainville (4-5)
Newington (2-7) beating Wethersfield (8-1)
Bristol Eastern(1-8) beating cross-town rival Bristol Central (6-3)
RHAM (1-8) beating Bacon Academy (7-1)
In the end, it comes down the strength of schedule and what you do on the field. The teams Avon beat this season didn’t beat too many other teams.
And much of this scoreboard watching can be avoided with wins on the field. At 8-1 and with a win over either East Catholic or Bloomfield, Avon wouldn’t be in this position, counting bonus points.
Rocky Hill, currently ranked ninth in Class S, lost 10 points due to the decision. The Terriers lost 70 points but gained 60 after the six teams they beat (NW Catholic, Plainville, Rockville, East Catholic, Tolland, Fermi) picked up forfeit wins over Berlin. The Redcoats won seven of their first nine games only losing to Bloomfield and Avon.
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