North, South meet in playoffs; BG, Souhegan get No. 1 seeds

For the first time since the split, Nashua's two public high schools will meet in the Division I football playoffs.

Nashua North's win over Exeter on Saturday means the Titans (6-2 in division) finished the year as the No. 2 seed in Division I.

Despite losing to Manchester Central Friday night, Nashua South (5-3) got the third seed thanks to two tiebreakers. Both South and Salem (5-3) tied Central in the final standings, but the Panthers and Blue Devils came out ahead of the Little Green according to the NHIAA's tiebreaking procedure. South finished ahead of Salem thanks to its regular-season win on Oct. 22.

So North and South will meet in the Division I semifinals on Saturday at Stellos Stadium. Kickoff is currently scheduled for 1 p.m.

Pinkerton took the No. 1 seed after beating Manchester Memorial in the regular-season finale, and the Astros will host Salem in the other semifinal, also at 1 p.m. Saturday in Derry.

The winners will meet at the home of the higher seed on Nov. 20 for the championship game.

Division II

Bishop Guertin (7-1) is again the No. 1 seed after defeating Keene last weekend. The Cardinals and Blackbirds will meet again in the semifinals, as BG will host Keene on Saturday at Stellos Stadium at a time to be determined.

Winnacunnet (6-2) earned the second seed because of its regular-season win over Dover (6-2), and the Warriors will host the No. 3 Green Wave on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Hampton. Dover is one of the hottest teams in the state, having won seven in a row after an 0-3 start to the year.

The winners of each game will meet in the Division II championship game at the home of the higher seed on Nov. 20.

Division III

For the first time in the program's history, Hollis/Brookline (5-3) is in the postseason following  a 28-0 win over Goffstown. The No. 4 Cavaliers get to face No. 1 Souhegan (8-0) in the semifinals Saturday at 1 p.m. in Amherst.

After beating Pembroke last weekend, Portsmouth (6-2) is the No. 2 seed and will host No. 3 Milford (6-2) in the semifinals on Saturday at 1 p.m. This is the third time the two will meet in the semifinals since the Clippers moved down to Division III before the 2006 season. Portsmouth won the two previous games.

The winners will meet in the championship game on Nov. 20 at the home of the higher seed.