DERBY, Conn. — Citing health and safety for its players, Derby High School announced they will be forfeiting their final five games of the football season.
In an announcement posted by Derby Superintendent Matt Conway, Derby will forfeit their varsity contests this season versus Oxford, Seymour, Ansonia, Gilbert, and Shelton due to the current number of eligible healthy players.
The school cited the Connecticut Interscholastic Athlete Conference's (CIAC) guidance, which states that if schools are unable to, in good faith, reschedule postponed contests, they must be forfeited.
"Our goal through this was to be safe and healthy for the boys and give them the best experience, athletic experience that we can," Derby HS Athletic Director Teg Cosgriff told FOX61.
The team started the year with only 28 players, a number by late last week that had been cut roughly in half by injuries and other factors.
"We’ve had a handful of guys who I would say that no matter what happened this week they were going to be done for the year. Then we have another pool of guys who I would say were more week to week," said Derby HS Head Football Coach Steve Bainer.
The school leadership decided it was best to postpone this week's game versus Oxford.
"Once we tipped that line of forfeiting a game that means the remaining games behind that are not able to be played as well," said Cosgriff, who pointed out that it is CIAC policy.
School officials said the high school will continue to operate its football program, train, and get healthy, returning to play a scrimmage versus Ansonia on November 11 at 6 p.m.
The game will be Senior Night for the three Derby High School football players and the cheerleaders.
The administration also thanked the CIAC and school staff as part of the statement:
"The Derby administration appreciates the guidance of the CIAC staff through this process and the graciousness and understanding of the fellow athletic directors and coaches of the schools impacted.
The Derby administration would also like to express great appreciation for the entire coaching staff and everything they have done to keep our kids on the field and playing. They have supported our kids every minute through a very difficult season.
Most importantly our appreciation goes to the athletes who have faced adversity throughout the season and keep coming back, practice after practice, play after play, game after game giving everything they have to compete and leaving it all on the field."
School officials said that Derby looks forward to keeping the student-athletes engaged and getting them healthy while improving the football program to come back "better and stronger" for the 2022 season.
Twenty-one of this year's Derby 28-man roster was comprised of freshmen and sophomores.
Tony Terzi is a reporter at FOX61 News. He can be reached at tterzi@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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