Fall Sports

Playoff Picture: Division I football

Danny Brown and Alvirne bounced back with a big win over Nashua South last Friday.

There are three weeks left in the regular season, and just one team in Division I has clinched one of the eight spots in the conference championship game. On the flip side, only five teams have been eliminated from the postseason, meaning a lot can still happen between now and Nov. 1.

Here's a look at where every team stands, how they might be able to get into the postseason and some important games down the stretch in Division I.

East Conference

Exeter (4-2, 9.00 rating)
Portsmouth (4-2, 9.67)
Spaulding (2-4, 3.33)
Winnacunnet (1-5, 1.67)
Dover (0-6, 0.00)

If the conference title game was this week: Portsmouth at Exeter. The Blue Hawks won last week's meeting between the two, giving them the head-to-head tiebreaker and first place in the conference, despite having a lower rating than the Clippers.

Clinched: None.

Can clinch this week if: Exeter locks up a spot with a win over Dover. Portsmouth would get in with a win over Winnacunnet (which would eliminate the Warriors) and a Spaulding loss to Manchester Memorial. Both Spaulding and Winnacunnet need to win to stay alive.

Eliminated: Dover.

North Conference

Bedford (6-0, 16.00)
Concord (5-1, 10.33)
Manchester Memorial (4-2, 8.33)
Goffstown (3-3, 6.67)
Manchester Central (1-5, 1.67)

If the conference title game was this week: Concord at Bedford. These two teams will meet, in Bedford, on Friday, at 7 p.m.

Clinched: None.

Can clinch this week if: Bedford not only wraps up a spot in the title game with a win over Concord, but also home field for the conference championship. If Concord loses and Memorial beats Spaulding, the Crusaders would move into the second spot for the time being. A Concord win eliminates Goffstown, regardless of what the Grizzlies do against Central. Goffstown needs to win out, including a win over Memorial on Nov. 1, and Concord to lose out to clinch the second spot.

Eliminated: Manchester Central.

South Conference

Pinkerton (6-0, 16.00)
Salem (5-1, 11.00)
Londonderry (5-1, 10.33)
Merrimack (2-4, 3.67)
Timberlane (2-4, 3.67)

If the conference title game was this week: Salem at Pinkerton. The Blue Devils get the nod at the moment because of a better rating, but if both Salem and Londonderry are tied going into the final week of the season, they'll play a winner-take-tall game on Oct. 31.

Clinched: Pinkerton.

Can clinch this week if: Neither Salem nor Londonderry can clinch this week. Salem plays at Merrimack and at Nashua North before hosting Londonderry in the season finale. Londonderry is at Alvirne and hosts Nashua South. As long as neither loses both games, the winner of the Oct. 31 meeting will play Pinkerton in the title game.

Eliminated: Merrimack, Timberlane.

West Conference

Alvirne (4-2, 9.00)
Nashua South (3-3, 6.67)
Nashua North (2-4, 4.33)
Bishop Guertin (1-5, 1.67)
Keene (0-6, 0.00)

If the conference title game was this week: Nashua South at Alvirne. A rematch of last week's game, which was won by the Broncos, 42-14.

Clinched: None.

Can clinch this week if: Alvirne grabs at least a spot in the conference championship with a win over Londonderry this week, thanks to its tiebreakers over South and North. A North win on Saturday would keep the Titans in the mix, while eliminating Bishop Guertin.

Eliminated: Keene.