> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # A way-too-early look at the 2022 football season - URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/a-way-too-early-look-at-the-2022-football-season/ - Published: 2021-12-29T00:30:50.000Z - Updated: 2021-12-29T00:30:50.000Z - Description: Change is inevitable. Every two years, the NHIAA reevaluates divisions for every single sport and makes adjustments based on enrollment and petitions. The 2021-22 school year marks the end of a cycle and there is change coming to the divisional structure of New Hampshire high school football for the - Author: Joe Marchilena - Tags: Fall Sports, 2022 predictions, Division I, Division II, Division III, Division IV, football, NH High School Sports Insider, slider, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44 Change is inevitable. Every two years, the NHIAA reevaluates divisions for every single sport and makes adjustments based on enrollment and petitions. The 2021-22 school year marks the end of a cycle and there is change coming to the divisional structure of New Hampshire high school football for the next two seasons. Growth is optional. In this case, the football committee decided it was necessary, at least in Division I. After having 20 teams in the division for the last eight years, starting next season - and at least for the next two - there will be 21 teams in D1\. That also means a change in the number of teams making the playoffs and change to the number of conferences in the division. While there is more movement in regards to teams going up and down in the other three divisions, the number of teams remains the same - 18 teams in Division II, 10 in Division III and Division IV will once against have nine, which it did last season after Farmington-Nute cancelled its varsity season. With that out of the way, here is a way-too-early look at the 2022 football season. ### Division I The why and the how of there being 21 teams in a football division is a story for another time, but the who is pretty simple: Alvirne, Bedford, Bishop Guertin, Concord, Dover, Exeter, Goffstown, Keene, Londonderry, Manchester Central, Manchester Memorial, Merrimack, Nashua North, Nashua South, Pinkerton, Portsmouth-Oyster River, Salem, Spaulding, Timberlane, Windham and Winnacunnet. While the breakdown appears to be headed toward three conferences of seven teams, what those conferences will look like remains to be seen. The regular-season and playoff format will also be different, with each team playing eight games during a nine-week regular season. Then there will be 13 teams that make the postseason, with three getting byes in the first round - maybe the three conference winners - and the other teams playing in that opening weekend. Regardless of the rest of the details, the mission right now is to tell you who I think will be those 13 teams, and to start, look no further than this year's champion. Londonderry looked like a team that was reloading this season, with a smaller senior class and an inexperienced roster. Instead, the Lancers went 11-1 and won their second D1 title in three years - and they bring a whole lot of the players that were key to this year's title back. Londonderry wasn't the only team that will return a solid core in its junior class. Bishop Guertin returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2016 behind the play of guys who will be seniors next year and the Cardinals should be in the mix for one of those top seeds. They're not the only team from Nashua to keep an eye, as North, which won it all in 2020, should also be returning almost all of its starting lineup from this season. The Titans had six games decided by seven points or less in 2021, an experience that's sure to help them going into a new season. Winnacunnet, which lost to Londonderry in this year's final, will lose a lot of talent to graduation, but the Warriors should have enough coming back to compete for a playoff spot. Pinkerton, Exeter and Salem, despite losing talented seniors of their own, should also be in contention. While Bedford and Goffstown see all-state seniors leave the programs, Concord should be on the rise after picking up a few more wins this season. Portsmouth-Oyster River, which finished a game out of the playoffs this year, should also be a program to watch. **Too-early predictions for 2022 playoff teams (13):** Bedford, Bishop Guertin, Concord, Dover, Exeter, Goffstown, Keene, Londonderry, Nashua North, Pinkerton, Portsmouth-Oyster River, Salem, Winnacunnet. ### Division II The only changes in the division it appears are a few teams moving in and out of the East Conference, with Timberlane going back up to D1, and Kingswood dropping down. Pelham and Laconia move up, presumably into the East, to replace those two and keep the division at 18 teams. While the 2021 champ, Timberlane, will no longer be in the division, Pelham, the two-time D3 champ, should be one of the favorites heading into the season. The Pythons will see some key players graduate in the spring, but they were a deep team that should be right back in the mix in their return to D2. St. Thomas made a big turnaround in 2021 and should be expected to continue that trend next year, while its always a good bet to pencil Plymouth into a postseason spot every season. Sanborn came on strong at the end of the year and could carry that momentum over into next season, while Kennett and Gilford-Belmont always are battling for a postseason berth. In the West Conference, Milford, this year's runner-up, will lose only a handful of seniors, but they were big-time contributors. The Spartans did play a lot of underclassmen, and with a successful year of experience under their belts, they should be considered a team to watch in 2022. Souhegan had a young team in 2021 coming off its title the year before, and the Sabers still were able to reach the postseason. Many of those key players will be back, and will be a year older, to help Souhegan make another run at the postseason. Hanover and Lebanon might take a step back early in the season after seeing some talented seniors graduate, but both have been headed in the right direction. After missing the playoffs this year, Bow should bounce back and be in contention, while Manchester West and Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton showed improvement in 2021 and will be tough heading into next year. **Too-early predictions for 2022 playoff teams (8):** Bow, Hanover, Kennett, Milford, Pelham, Plymouth, Souhegan, St. Thomas. ### Division III The division gets a little shakeup, with Pelham and Laconia moving up and Kingswood petitioning down. ConVal, which was in D3 in 2021, also petitioned down for another cycle, meaning the Knights and the Cougars are ineligible for the postseason in 2022\. Epping-Newmarket and Fall Mountain move up into the division, based on enrollment numbers. That leaves eight teams fighting for four playoff sports, and with Pelham gone, the division appears to be more wide-open than the last few seasons. Trinity has been in the final in two of the last three years, winning it all in 2019, and although the Pioneers lose six key seniors, they have enough returning to be a potential preseason favorite. Campbell, which made the postseason in 2021, will see 13 players graduate, including a good number of linemen, but the Cougars have the skill players returning to be in the mix again. Kearsarge, the division's fourth playoff team, loses a lot to graduation, but the Cougars appear headed in the right direction after a couple of rough years. Regardless of numbers and depth, Monadnock and Stevens always seems to be in contention for a playoff spot and a title, while Fall Mountain has seen a resurgence after making the Division IV final in two of the three previous seasons. **Too-early predictions for 2022 playoff teams (4):** Trinity, Campbell, Monadnock, Stevens. ### Division IV With the return of a varsity program for Farmington-Nute and with Winnisquam petitioning down, the division will have nine teams this year, the Bears' ineligible for the playoffs. The teams to beat in 2022 don't look much different than this year, as Somersworth, the 2021 champ, and Newport, the 2020 champ, both return a large group of players from playoff teams. With the other two playoff teams from this year moving up, the remaining tournament spots are wide open. **Too-early predictions for 2022 playoff teams (4):** Somersworth, Newport, Bishop Brady, Mascoma Vallley. Only 33 weeks (hopefully) until the start of football practice in 2022.