Playoff Picture: Division I football
The four biggest games this weekend feature teams from outside the playoff picture taking on teams they are chasing in the postseason race. In the East/West Cluster, Nashua North travels to Portsmouth in a matchup of teams reeling from losses last week, but for different reasons. The Titans were con
The four biggest games this weekend feature teams from outside the playoff picture taking on teams they are chasing in the postseason race.
In the East/West Cluster, Nashua North travels to Portsmouth in a matchup of teams reeling from losses last week, but for different reasons. The Titans were convincingly thumped by Exeter, while the Clippers saw a comfortable lead evaporate in almost no time against Bishop Guertin.
Nashua South continues its tour of the seacoast, as the Panthers travel to Exeter on Friday in need of a marquee win. That's easier said than done against what looked like a rejuvenated Blue Hawks team a week ago.
In the North/South Cluster, Pinkerton and Manchester Central has a lot of ground to cover, but find themselves in position to do just that this weekend.
Pinkerton hosts Merrimack on Friday, and a win would not only help boost the Astros' rating, it would also bring the Tomahawks within shouting distance in the South Conference. Same goes for Central in its game against Goffstown on Saturday.
Here’s a look at how Division I would look if the playoffs started this week.
East/West Cluster
East Conference
- x-Exeter (5-1), 12.00
- x-Dover (4-2), 9.67
- x-Portsmouth (4-2), 9.67
- Winnacunnet (1-5), 2.00
- Spaulding (0-6), 0.00
West Conference
- x-Bishop Guertin (5-1), 12.67
- Nashua North (4-2), 9.33
- Nashua South (4-2), 8.00
- Keene (2-4), 5.00
- Alvirne (1-5), 1.67
Playoff teams: Bishop Guertin, Dover, Exeter, Portsmouth.
In the hunt: Nashua North, Nashua South, Keene.
Quarterfinals: No. 4 Portsmouth at No. 1 Bishop Guertin; No. 3 Dover at No. 2 Exeter.
Scenarios: Bishop Guertin remains at the top of the cluster, with Exeter jumping back up to No. 2. Dover moves back in to No. 3 following losses by Portsmouth and Nashua North. The Green Wave move ahead of the Clippers because of the head-to-head win.
Games to watch this week: Nashua North at Portsmouth, Friday, 7 p.m.; Nashua South at Exeter, Friday, 7 p.m.; Dover at Keene, Saturday, 1 p.m.
North/South Cluster
North Conference
- x-Bedford (6-0), 16.00
- x-Goffstown (5-1), 10.33
- Manchester Central (3-3), 5.67
- Concord (1-5), 1.67
- Manchester Memorial (0-6), 0.00
South Conference
- x-Merrimack (5-1), 11.67
- x-Salem (5-1), 11.00
- Pinkerton (3-3), 6.00
- Londonderry (1-5), 2.00
- Timberlane (1-5), 1.67
Playoff teams: Bedford, Goffstown, Merrimack, Salem.
Quarterfinal matchups: No. 4 Goffstown at No. 1 Bedford; No. 3 Salem at No. 2 Merrimack.
In the hunt: Manchester Central, Pinkerton.
Scenarios: Yawn. No changes here from a week ago. Pinkerton and Central could help themselves out with wins this week against Merrimack and Goffstown, respectively.
Games to watch this week: Merrimack at Pinkerton, Friday, 7 p.m.; Londonderry at Salem, Friday, 7 p.m.; Manchester Central at Goffstown, Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
