Playoff Picture: D2 Football (Oct. 27)

Here is a look at the standings going into the final week of the regular season and a breakdown of what could happen for each team still in contention, including lowest possible football rating, highest possible rating and predicted rating.

Note: Standings based off results reported to NHIAA.org and other media outlets. These are not official standings or pairings.

Division II

The top seed in each conference, determined by football rating, will receive the top two seeds. The remaining six playoff spots will be determined by football rating and seeded 3-8.

East Conference

Team (record, rating)

1. Plymouth (7-1, 14.7500)
2. Sanborn (6-2, 12.5000)
3. St. Thomas (5-3, 10.5000)
4. Gilford-Belmont (4-4, 8.5000)
5. Kennett (4-4, 8.2500)
6. Bow (4-4, 8.0000)
7. Laconia (3-4, 6.5714)
8. e-Merrimack Valley (3-5, 6.0000)
9. e-Pembroke (1-7, 1.5000)

West Conference

Team (record, rating)

1. Pelham (7-0, 16.0000)
2. Souhegan (6-1, 13.1429)
3. John Stark (5-2, 9.7143)
4. Hanover (4-3, 7.1429)
5. e-Milford (3-5, 4.2500)
6. e-Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton (1-6, 1.4286)
7. e-Manchester West (1-6, 1.4286)
8. e-Hollis Brookline (0-7, 0.0000)

e – eliminated from playoffs

Current Quarterfinal Matchups

• No. 8 Kennett at No. 1 Pelham
• No. 5 St. Thomas at No. 4 Sanborn
• No. 7 Gilford-Belmont at No. 2 Plymouth
• No. 6 John Stark at No. 3 Souhegan

Pelham

• Game: vs. Hanover, Friday, 7 p.m.
• Wins: Manchester West, St. Thomas, John Stark, Hollis Brookline, Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton, Milford, Souhegan.
• Lowest possible rating: 14.5000.
• Highest possible rating: 17.2500.
• Likely rating: 17.0000.

Pelham will clinch the No. 1 seed with a win over Hanover. A loss could drop the Pythons to No. 2. It's unlikely Pelham would drop any lower, but there is a small chance a loss, plus wins by Plymouth and/or Souhegan, and Kennett could move the Pythons down. Will likely be the No. 1 seed.

Plymouth

• Game: vs. Sanborn, Saturday, 1 p.m.
• Wins: Pembroke, Bow, Merrimack Valley, Laconia, Gilford-Belmont, Kennett, St. Thomas.
• Lowest possible rating: 13.7778.
• Highest possible rating: 16.4444.
• Likely rating: 16.2222.

Plymouth will clinch at least the No. 2 seed with a win over Sanborn. A win and a Pelham loss would move Plymouth up to the top seed. A loss will drop Plymouth no lower than No. 4.

Souhegan

• Game: vs. John Stark, Friday, 7 p.m.
• Wins: Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton, Milford, Manchester West, Plymouth, Hanover, Hollis Brookline.
• Lowest possible rating: 11.7500.
• Highest possible rating: 15.0000.
• Likely rating: 14.5000.

Souhegan will clinch at least the No. 3 seed with a win over John Stark. There is a very slim chance the Sabers could get the No. 1 seed with a win and losses by Pelham and Plymouth, plus a win by Hollis Brookline. A loss will drop Souhegan no lower than No. 5.

Sanborn

• Game: at Plymouth, Saturday, 1 p.m.
• Wins: Bow, Merrimack Valley, Kennett, Pembroke, John Stark, Laconia.
• Lowest possible rating: 11.5556.
• Highest possible rating: 14.8889.
• Likely rating: 11.7778.

Sanborn will clinch at least the No. 2 seed with a win over Plymouth. There is a very slim chance the Indians could get the No. 1 seed with a win and losses by Pelham and Souhegan, plus a win by Kennett. A loss will drop Sanborn no lower than No. 6.

St. Thomas

• Game: at Gilford-Belmont, Saturday, 2 p.m.
• Wins: Merrimack Valley, Sanborn, Pembroke, Laconia, Bow.
• Lowest possible rating: 9.7778.
• Highest possible rating: 12.0000.
• Likely rating: 11.7778.

St. Thomas has clinched a playoff spot and can move up to No. 4 with a win and a Sanborn loss, while a win and a Sanborn win would mean the No. 5 seed. A loss could drop the Saints as low as No. 7.

John Stark

• Game: vs. Souhegan, Friday, 7 p.m.
• Wins: Milford, Hanover, Manchester West, Hollis Brookline, Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton.
• Lowest possible rating: 8.7500.
• Highest possible rating: 12.0000.
• Likely rating: 8.7500.

John Stark would clinch a playoff spot with a win over Souhegan and likely end up at No. 5 or 6. The Generals can still get in with a loss, but would also need a loss by either Gilford-Belmont, Kennett, Bow or Hanover.

Gilford-Belmont

• Game: vs. St. Thomas, Saturday, 2 p.m.
• Wins: Sanborn, Pembroke, Merrimack Valley, Hanover.
• Lowest possible rating: 7.7778.
• Highest possible rating: 10.4444.
• Likely rating: 7.7778.

Gilford-Belmont would clinch a playoff spot with a win over St. Thomas. Gilford-Belmont could still make the playoffs with a loss, but would also need losses from two of Kennett, Bow and Hanover.

Kennett

• Game: vs. Hollis Brookline, Friday, 7 p.m.
• Wins: St. Thomas, Gilford-Belmont, Pembroke, Laconia.
• Lowest possible rating: 7.5556.
• Highest possible rating: 9.1111.
• Likely rating: 8.6667.

Kennett would clinch a playoff spot with a win over Hollis Brookline and a Bow loss to Laconia. Kennett could still make the playoffs with a loss, but would also need losses from Bow and Hanover.

Bow

• Game: vs. Laconia, Saturday, 2 p.m.
• Wins: Gilford-Belmont, Pembroke, Kennett, Milford.
• Lowest possible rating: 7.1111.
• Highest possible rating: 9.5556.
• Likely rating: 9.1111.

Bow is currently on the outside, looking in at the playoffs. A win over Laconia would clinch a playoff spot, likely the eighth seed. Combined with losses by John Stark, Gilford-Belmont and Kennett, the Falcons could finish as high as No. 6. A loss would eliminate Bow.

Hanover

• Game: at Pelham, Friday, 7 p.m.
• Wins: Hollis Brookline, Milford, Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton, Manchester West.
• Lowest possible rating: 6.5000.
• Highest possible rating: 9.7500.
• Likely rating: 6.5000.

Hanover needs a win over Pelham and a loss by either John Stark, Gilford-Belmont or Bow to clinch a playoff spot. A loss would eliminate Hanover.

Laconia

• Game: at Bow, Saturday, 2 p.m.
• Wins: Gilford-Belmont, Pembroke, Merrimack Valley.
• Lowest possible rating: 6.0000.
• Highest possible rating: 8.5000.
• Likely rating: 6.0000.

Laconia needs a win over Bow plus losses by Gilford-Belmont, Hanover and Sanborn to have a shot at clinching a playoff spot.