By Dakota Antelman, Managing Editor
Photo/Jeff Slovin
NORTHBOROUGH/SOUTHBOROUGH – Algonquin football finished its regular season with a 6-2 record.
When playoff seeding came out, though, the team was on the outside looking in under the MIAA’s new power ranking system, which takes into account a number of factors besides win-loss records to rank teams.
Algonquin football coach Mark Allen told the Community Advocate that the experience of telling his senior players that they had missed the playoffs was one of the hardest things he has ever had to do.
“Regarding the new system, I think the biggest takeaway is that wins aren’t factored into the formula, and it also can rely too much on other teams to impact your rating,” Allen said.
He called attention to Worcester Tech, another team with a winning record that missed the playoffs.
“There’s teams that are in with three wins,” he said. “That’s a tough pill to swallow.”
“It’s disappointing for the kids, especially the seniors, who have worked so hard all season and do not have that opportunity to compete in the state tournament,” he continued.
Allen said his team has shifted its focus for the last three weeks of the season.
“The team has played with a chip on their shoulder all year, and not getting into the playoffs has just added to that,” he said. “Going 3-0 the last few games would be a great end to the season, but we have to take it one game at a time.”
Algonquin opened non-playoff action with a 28-7 win over Nashoba on Nov. 5. It will face Fitchburg on Friday, Nov. 12 before capping off the season with the annual Thanksgiving game against Westborough.
Additional reporting by Kevin J. Stone
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