Breakdown of the 2017 Division II football schedule

The start of the New Hampshire high school football season is less than a month away and the schedules for 2017 are out.

Here’s a week-by-week look at some of the key games coming up in Division II this season. Schedules are subject to change.

Week 1

North Conference

• Laconia at Hanover, Friday, Sept. 1, 7 p.m.: One of last year's surprises, the Marauders will play host to a Sachems team that could be a dark horse in 2017.
• Merrimack Valley at Lebanon, Friday, Sept. 1, 7 p.m.
• Kingswood at Plymouth, Saturday, Sept. 2, 1:30 p.m.: The defending champion Bobcats open their title defense at home against the Knights, who they also beat in last year's opener.
• Kennett at Gilford-Belmont, Saturday, Sept. 2, 1:30 p.m.
• Pembroke at Bow, Saturday, Sept., 1:30 p.m.

South Conference

• Milford at ConVal, Friday, Sept. 1, 7 p.m.: The Spartans have dominated the all-time series with the Cougars, but needed to withstand a big second-half comeback by ConVal last year. That ultimately kept the Cougars out of the playoffs.
• Trinity at Pelham, Friday, Sept. 1, 7 p.m.
• Hollis Brookline at Windham, Saturday, Sept. 2, 1:30 p.m.: Two playoffs teams from a year ago, both of which are expected to compete for a postseason spot again. This will be the fourth year in a row they've opened the season against each other, with Windham winning the previous three by an average of 36 points.
• St. Thomas at Sanborn, Saturday, Sept. 2, 1:30 p.m.: New Saints coach Ryan Brown starts his tenure against a Sanborn team that St. Thomas has beaten in each of its last three openers by a combined 143-27.
• Manchester West at Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton, Saturday, Sept. 2, 1:30 p.m.

Crossover

• John Stark at Souhegan, Friday, Sept. 1, 7:30 p.m.: These two met for a memorable game to open the season last year in Weare. Both will likely be in the hunt for a playoff spot this year. It's also the first game for new Souhegan coach Robin Bowkett.

Week 2

North Conference

• Plymouth at Kennett, Friday, Sept. 8, 7 p.m.: The Bobcats have won four of the last five meetings with the Eagles since the teams moved into Division II.
• Kingswood at Laconia, Friday, Sept. 8, 7 p.m.
• Hanover at Merrimack Valley, Friday, Sept. 8, 7 p.m.
• Gilford-Belmont at John Stark, Saturday, Sept. 9, 1:30 p.m.
• Lebanon at Pembroke, Saturday, Sept. 9, 1:30 p.m.

South Conference

• Souhegan at Trinity, Friday, Sept. 8, 7 p.m.
• Windham at Milford, Friday, Sept. 8, 7 p.m.: A potential playoff matchup, these teams have combined for six postseason appearances since they both moved into Division II in 2013.
• ConVal at Manchester West, Friday, Sept. 8, 7 p.m.
• Sanborn at Hollis Brookline, Friday, Sept. 8, 7 p.m.: These two teams have formed a bit of a rivalry, going back to 2008, when Sanborn resurrected its varsity football program. HB has won the last three games, including a quarterfinal win in 2014.
• Pelham at St. Thomas, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2 p.m.

Crossover

• Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton at Bow, Friday, Sept. 8, 7 p.m.: A year ago, the Falcons won their first three games, scoring an average of 39.7 points against teams that won a combined four games. Could be more of the same to start this year.

Week 3

North Conference

• Pembroke at Hanover, Friday, Sept. 15, 7 p.m.
• Merrimack Valley at Kennett, Friday, Sept. 15, 7 p.m.
• Laconia at Plymouth, Saturday, Sept. 16, 1:30 p.m.: These rivals have split the last four meetings, with Laconia's two wins coming by one point each.
• Bow at Gilford-Belmont, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2:30 p.m.
• Lebanon at John Stark, Saturday, Sept. 16, 4 p.m.: The 42 points the Generals scored last year against the Raiders was the most Lebanon had allowed in more than two years.

South Conference

• Milford at Pelham, Friday, Sept. 15, 7 p.m.: The Spartans have won all five meetings with the Pythons, but the last three have been by an average of just 15 points.
• Manchester West at Sanborn, Friday, Sept. 15, 7 p.m.
• St. Thomas at Souhegan, Friday, Sept. 15, 7:30 p.m.: This will be the Saints first trip to Amherst, as St. Thomas won the first meeting between these teams last year.
• Trinity at Hollis Brookline, Saturday, Sept. 16, 1:30 p.m.
• Windham at Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton, Saturday, Sept. 16, 1:30 p.m.

Crossover

• ConVal at Kingswood, Friday, Sept. 15, 7 p.m.: The Cougars won last year's meeting to snap a three-game losing streak against the Knights.

Week 4

North Conference

• John Stark at Kingswood, Friday, Sept. 22, 7 p.m.
• Laconia at Pembroke, Friday, Sept. 22, 7 p.m.
• Hanover at Lebanon, Friday, Sept. 22, 7 p.m.: The Marauders' 34-8 win over the Raiders last year snapped a three-game losing streak against Lebanon.
• Bow at Plymouth, Saturday, Sept. 23, 1:30 p.m.: A rematch of the 2016 championship game, won by the Bobcats on their final drive.

South Conference

• Manchester West at Milford, Friday, Sept. 22, 7 p.m.
• Sanborn at ConVal, Friday, Sept. 22, 7 p.m.
• Souhegan at Windham, Saturday, Sept. 23, 1:30 p.m.: The Jaguars are 4-0 all-time against the Sabers, winning each game by an average of 16.5 points.
• Trinity at Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton, Saturday, Sept. 23, 1:30 p.m.

Crossover

• Gilford-Belmont at Pelham, Friday, Sept. 22, 7 p.m.
• Hollis Brookline at Merrimack Valley, Friday, Sept. 22, 6 p.m.
• Kennett at St. Thomas, Saturday, Sept. 23, 7 p.m.: Last year in North Conway, the Eagles handed the Saints their first loss of the season. St. Thomas did the same to Kennett in the 2014 semifinals.

Week 5

North Conference

• Kingswood at Bow, Friday, Sept. 29, 4:30 p.m.
• Plymouth at Merrimack Valley, Friday, Sept. 29, 6 p.m.
• John Stark at Laconia, Friday, Sept. 29, 7 p.m.: Given the early schedule for both teams, this one could have a big impact on the playoffs. The Sachems hung with the Generals a year ago before falling by 14 points.
• Gilford-Belmont at Hanover, Friday, Sept. 29, 7 p.m.
• Lebanon at Kennett, Friday, Sept. 29, 7 p.m.: Last year's win by the Raiders snapped a five-game losing streak against the Eagles and helped Lebanon get a spot in the postseason.

South Conference

• Milford at Souhegan, Friday, Sept. 29, 7 p.m.: In a rivalry that was once dominated by the Sabers, the Spartans have won four of the last five meetings, including a quarterfinal in 2015.
• ConVal at Trinity, Friday, Sept. 29, 7 p.m.
• Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton at Hollis Brookline, Saturday, Sept. 30, 1:30 p.m.
• Windham at St. Thomas, Saturday, Sept. 30, 1:30 p.m.: While the Saints lead the all-time series 4-3, the Jaguars have won three of the last four meetings.
• Pelham at Sanborn, Saturday, Sept. 30, 2:30 p.m.

Crossover

• Pembroke at Manchester West, Saturday, Sept. 30, 1 p.m.: Since 2014, when the Blue Knights moved down to Division II, the Spartans have won four games - three have been against West. Meanwhile, West enters the season on a 20-game losing streak, and has lost 34 of 35 overall.

Week 6

North Conference

• Merrimack Valley at Kingswood, Friday, Oct. 6, 7 p.m.
• Plymouth at Gilford-Belmont, Saturday, Oct. 7, 1:30 p.m.
• Kennett at Bow, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2 p.m.: The third game of a five-game stretch for Kennett against teams that finished with a winning record last season.
• Pembroke at John Stark, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2:30 p.m.
• Laconia at Lebanon, Saturday, Oct. 7, 6 p.m.: Last year's 46-41 win gave the Raiders three straight wins against the Sachems after dropping nine of the previous 10.

South Conference

• St. Thomas at Milford, Friday, Oct. 6, 7 p.m.: In each of the last two meetings, the Saints have needed a big second half to hold off the Spartans. This time, the teams play in Milford.
• Souhegan at Manchester West, Friday, Oct. 6, 7 p.m.
• Hollis Brookline at ConVal, Friday, Oct. 6, 7 p.m.: The Cougars have had the Cavaliers number in recent years, having won three in a row against HB and four of five overall.
• Windham at Trinity, Friday, Oct. 6, 7 p.m.: The Jaguars have dominated of late in what started as an even series. Windham has won three in a row against the Pioneers, including last year's 62-3 victory.
• Pelham at Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton, Saturday, Oct. 7, 1:30 p.m.

Crossover

• Hanover at Sanborn, Saturday, Oct. 7, 1:30 p.m.

Week 7

North Conference

• Bow at Merrimack Valley, Friday, Oct. 13, 6 p.m.
• Kennett at Laconia, Friday, Oct. 13, 7 p.m.
• Kingswood at Hanover, Friday, Oct. 13, 7 p.m.
• John Stark at Plymouth, Saturday, Oct. 14, 1:30 p.m.: Last year, the Generals needed a late pick-6 to hand the Bobcats their first loss of the season. This year's meeting could again have playoff implications.
• Gilford-Belmont at Pembroke, Saturday, Oct. 14, 1:30 p.m.

South Conference

• ConVal at Pelham, Friday, Oct. 13, 7 p.m.: The Cougars' first seven opponents were a combined 22-42 last season, with only Milford and HB having winning records. ConVal might have to win them all to get into the playoffs, with a tough final two games remaining.
• Trinity at Milford, Friday, Oct. 13, 7 p.m.
• Sanborn at Souhegan, Friday, Oct. 13, 7 p.m.: The Indians surprised the Sabers a year ago at home with a 28-21 win, their first win in four tries against Souhegan. That win was part of a finish that saw Sanborn go 3-2 in its final five games of the season.
• Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton, Saturday, Oct. 14, 1:30 p.m.
• Manchester West at Hollis Brookline, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2 p.m.

Crossover

• Lebanon at Windham, Saturday, Oct. 14, 1:30 p.m.: A year ago, the Jaguars stormed out to a 20-0 lead in the first quarter of a 58-21 win, rushing for over six hundred yards. It looked like the end of the Raiders' playoff hopes, but Lebanon bounced back with one-point wins over Plymouth and Bow to get in.

Week 8

North Conference

• Plymouth at Lebanon, Friday, Oct. 20, 7 p.m.: Last year's 7-6 win by the Raiders was Lebanon's third in a row against the Bobcats after Plymouth had won five of the previous six.
• Pembroke at Kingswood, Friday, Oct. 20, 7 p.m.
• Hanover at Kennett, Friday, Oct. 20, 7 p.m.
• John Stark at Bow, Saturday, Oct. 21, 1:30 p.m.: The Generals lost just two games in 2016 on the way to the first postseason berth in school history. Both of those losses came against the Falcons, the second of which was in the quarterfinals.
• Merrimack Valley at Gilford-Belmont, Saturday, Oct. 21, 1:30 p.m.

South Conference

• Windham at Manchester West, Thursday, Oct. 19, 6 p.m.: A rare non-weekend kickoff pits the Jaguars, who have lost just three games in three years, against the Blue Knights, who haven't won one since 2014.
• St. Thomas at ConVal, Friday, Oct. 20, 7 p.m.
• Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton at Souhegan, Friday, Oct. 20, 7 p.m.: These teams will play at Souhegan for the second year in a row after rain changed the time and location a year ago.
• Hollis Brookline at Pelham, Friday, Oct. 20, 7 p.m.
• Milford at Sanborn, Saturday, Oct. 21, 1:30 p.m.

Crossover

• Laconia at Trinity, Saturday, Oct. 21, 7 p.m.: The Pioneers had dominated this matchup, winning four straight, before the Sachems rolled to a 48-0 win a year ago.

Week 9

North Conference

• Kingswood at Kennett, Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m.: The Eagles have dominated the rivalry, winning 10 in a row, including the last two by a combined 79-0.
• Gilford-Belmont at Laconia, Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m.
• Bow at Lebanon, Friday, Oct. 27. 7 p.m.: Lebanon's overtime victory put the Raiders into the playoffs and gave them a higher seed than the Falcons, but Bow had the last laugh, upsetting John Stark and Hanover on its way to the final.
• Hanover at John Stark, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2 p.m.
• Merrimack Valley at Pembroke, Saturday, Oct. 28, 1:30 p.m.: The Pride have won the last four meetings in this rivalry, winning by an average of 20.3 points.

South Conference

• Pelham at Manchester West, Friday, Oct. 27, 6 p.m.
• Souhegan at Hollis Brookline, Saturday, Oct. 28, 1:30 p.m.: The Cavaliers have only beaten the Sabers three times in 10 tries, but those three wins have been by an average of 32.3 points, including a 55-21 victory last year.
• ConVal at Windham, Saturday, Oct. 28, 1:30 p.m.: A year ago, the Jaguars grabbed a 62-45 win over the Cougars in the season finale to knock ConVal out of the playoffs. It was the fourth game in a row Windham scored 58 points or more.
• Trinity at St. Thomas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2 p.m.
• Sanborn at Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton, Saturday, Oct. 28, 1:30 p.m.

Crossover

• Milford at Plymouth, Saturday, Oct. 28, 1:30 p.m.: The Bobcats end the regular season in 2016 with a comeback win over the Spartans in a game that was a must-win for both teams.

Playoffs

• Quarterfinals: Saturday, Nov. 4, at the higher seed
• Semifinals: Saturday, Nov. 11, at the higher seed
• Final: Saturday, Nov. 18, at the University of New Hampshire