Top ranked high school football team opts out of the playoffs

By Earvin Adjei and Gabrielle Lucivero

The Wilcox-Kaynor Tech co-op has a conference best record of 4-1, yet they are not in the playoff picture.

The reason why requires a look at a bigger picture.

The co-op football team’s main goal is simple: give kids the opportunity to play football.

Their 95-man roster allows them to do so, but it also comes with a major sacrifice.

The CIAC co-op has a roster limit of 64 and their 95 players make them ineligible for the playoffs.

Coaches and players are content with missing the playoffs.

“Most of these guys, they come to high school never playing football. You take these guys you line them up. They don’t know what a left guard is, they don’t know what a right guard is. They don’t know what anything is. Halfway through the season, they’re still learning. That’s it. That’s what it’s about. It’s 100% for the love, that’s it,” Alonzo Relaford, Wilcox-Kaynor head coach, said.

“We don’t really need a postseason to like have fun. Just go out there have fun. Try your best and enjoy the time. You only have four years of it,” Logan Stone, Wilcox-Kaynor senior quarterback, said.

The rule may keep them out the playoffs, but it will not keep them from loving the game.