Playoff Picture: Division II football
On one side is a high school football program that has won almost two dozen championships in its history. On the other is a program that has never played in a postseason game. In most years, Plymouth and John Stark meeting on the football field would be just another game on the schedule
On one side is a high school football program that has won almost two dozen championships in its history.
On the other is a program that has never played in a postseason game.
In most years, Plymouth and John Stark meeting on the football field would be just another game on the schedule. The Bobcats have won the last seven meetings - the most recent in 2012 - by an average of 24 points, going back to when the teams where in Divisions III and IV.
But this year is clearly different than many others. Both teams enter this week's game at 6-0 in the Division II North Conference and the winner will be in position to win the conference and the top-two seed that goes with it.
Here’s a look at what the Division II postseason would like if it started this week.
North Conference
- x-Plymouth (6-0), 13.67
- x-Hanover (6-0), 13.33
- x-John Stark (6-0), 13.00
- x-Bow (5-1), 10.33
- Lebanon (4-2), 9.00
- Kennett (3-3), 6.67
- Laconia (2-4), 3.67
- Pembroke (1-5), 1.67
- Merrimack Valley (1-5), 1.67
- Gilford-Belmont (0-6), 0.00
- Kingswood (0-6), 0.00
South Conference
- x-Windham (6-0), 15.67
- x-ConVal (5-1), 10.67
- x-St. Thomas (4-2), 10.00
- x-Milford (4-2), 9.67
- Hollis Brookline (4-2), 8.67
- Pelham (2-4), 4.00
- Sanborn (2-4), 4.00
- Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton (2-4), 3.67
- Souhegan (2-4), 3.67
- Trinity (1-5), 2.33
- Manchester West (0-6), 0.00
Playoff teams: Bow, ConVal, Hanover, John Stark, Milford, Plymouth, St. Thomas, Windham.
In the hunt: Lebanon, Hollis Brookline and Kennett.
Quarterfinal matchups: No. 8 Milford at No. 1 Windham; No. 5 ConVal at No. 4 John Stark; No. 7 St. Thomas at No. 2 Plymouth; No. 6 Bow at No. 3 Hanover.
Scenarios: Not much of a change among the top four teams, as Windham, Plymouth, Hanover and John Stark all remain undefeated. That will change this weekend, with the Bobcats traveling to Weare on Saturday to face the Generals in what could be the biggest regular-season game in the John Stark program's history. For the first time all season, no teams are tied in football rating.
Games to watch this week: Laconia at Kennett, Friday, 7 p.m.; Plymouth at John Stark, Saturday, 1:30 p.m.; Windham at Lebanon, Saturday, 6 p.m.
