On the Gridiron: For some football teams, playoffs have already started

Dan Hodsdon's message last week to his Somersworth High School football team was a simple one.

Beat Bishop Brady, and the Hilltoppers would have something to play for for at least another week. Lose, and the season is most likely going to end when October does.

"My point of emphasis this week was that we needed to come out with a sense of urgency," Hodsdon said. "Every game is going to be a playoff game for us and we're playing a good football team."

Somersworth (3-3 in Division III) is 1-0 in its playoff season after a 21-9 win over Bishop Brady, and the Hilltoppers try to continue that run this week against Epping-Newmarket (2-4) in what will most likely be an elimination game.

A loss for Somersworth would mean both Epping-Newmarket and Campbell (2-4) would hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Hilltoppers. A loss for Epping-Newmarket would knock it from playoff contention, while the same would likely happen to Campbell if it falls to Bishop Brady (4-2) this weekend.

"You want guys to have something to play for at this time of the year and they do," Hodsdon said. "They've got everything to play for, everything is in front of them. If we win out, our destiny is in our own hands. If we can do the things we need to do, take care of our own business, and hopefully, we don’t need any help. It's great to be playing for something in late October."

A lot to play for

There are two weeks left in the regular season, and there is still a lot left to be decided in each division. The only conference that is completely decided is the Division III North Conference, which has its four playoff teams set, but won't know the final order until at least after this weekend.

In Division I, there are only three teams that have clinched a playoff spot - Exeter (7-0) is the East Conference champion, while Goffstown (7-0) and Bedford (6-1) will both make the postseason out of the North Conference. A win in either of its final two games would give Goffstown the conference crown.

Division II is a lot trickier because the playoff field, after the four conference winners, is based on rating. St. Thomas (7-0) has just one game remaining, thanks to its bye this weekend, and will win the East Conference, but the other three conferences are still up for grabs.

Kennett (5-1) leads the North, by one game over Kearsarge (4-2) and Lebanon (4-2), and a game-and-a-half over Laconia (4-3) thanks to its bye-week loss to Monadnock. If that game ends up counting, it could be the reasons the Sachems don't make the postseason, although if they can beat Kennett and Kearsarge in the final two weeks, it may not matter.

The West looked like Monadnock's to lose, and the Huskes (4-3) appear to be doing just that, following back-to-back losses to Kearsarge and Sanborn. John Stark (4-3) isn't far behind, although the Generals will be on a bye this week, and both teams' only hope of making the postseason appears to be winning the conference.

And then there's the South. Windham (6-0), Souhegan (5-1) and Milford (5-1) should all get in, as they're currently three of the top four teams, according to rating. Who wins the conference will depend largely on the outcome of Saturday's Milford-Windham game.

Who is still alive?

There are 35 teams that are either already in the postseason, or still have a shot - mathematically - of getting into the playoffs. That's better than 61 percent of all football teams that still have something to play for with two weeks left in the season.

D1: Exeter, Winnacunnet (East); Salem, Timberlane, Pinkerton, Merrimack, Londonderry (South); Goffstown, Bedford, Manchester Central, Concord (North); Bishop Guertin, Nashua North, Keene (West).

D2: St. Thomas (East); Kennett, Lebanon, Kearsarge, Laconia, Plymouth (North); Windham, Souhegan, Milford (South); Monadnock, John Stark (West).

D3: Newport, Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough, Stevens, Franklin (North); Bow, Winnisquam, Bishop Brady, Somersworth, Campbell, Epping-Newmarket (South).

Ups ...

• Bishop Guertin: The Cardinals have won four straight, averaging 50.3 points in those wins, and they'll put that to the test this weekend at Goffstown.
• Laconia: The Sachems picked up their fourth in in their last five games by beating Merrimack Valley last week to keep their playoff hopes alive.

... And Downs

• Memorial/Spaulding: Unless they can somehow get a 10th game against each other on the schedule, both teams are looking at a winless season. Memorial finishes with Nashua North and Goffstown, while Spaulding plays Timberlane and Winnacunnet - all potential playoff teams.
• Trinity: After winning three of their first four, the Pioneers have been run over in their last two, getting outscored by Milford and Souhegan, 87-33.

Madden Stat of the Week: Goffstown's Connor Bourque carried the ball 17 times in Saturday's win over Manchester Central, rushing for 163 yards and seven touchdowns.