Playoff Preview: Division II football

All opening playoff rounds come with a bit of intrigue, but there's a little more than usual with the Division II postseason that's about to begin Saturday.

In an interesting twist, all four quarterfinal games will be between a team from the North and the South conferences who didn't play during the regular season. And in most of those games, a team that scores a lot of points is going up against a team that doesn't give up many.

It also marks the renewal of an old rivalry, with Souhegan heading to Plymouth to face the Bobcats for the first time since 2007.

So what can you expect when these teams take the field on Saturday? Here’s a closer look at all the teams that are in this year’s playoff field.

No. 1 Windham

• Record: 8-0.
• Last title: 2014 (Division II).
• Title game appearances: 2011, 2014, 2015.
• Points scored: 326 (40.8)
• Points allowed: 89 (11.1)
• Record vs. playoff teams: 3-0.

The Jaguars entered the season with a handful of question marks after taking a couple of hits from graduation, but Windham is right back where it has been the last few years with a group that's managed to fly under the radar. Royce Belsky, Jake Aleksa and Tommy Emrick lead the way for the Jaguars' offense, which has averaged 47.3 points per game over its last three games. They're going up against a Bow defense that allowed less than 10 points per game all year and shut out four teams.

No. 2 Plymouth

• Record: 8-0.
• Last title: 2016 (Division II).
• Title game appearances: 1972, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016.
• Points scored: 347 (43.4).
• Points allowed: 105 (13.1).
• Record vs. playoff teams: 1-0.

The Bobcats have consistent all season, getting out in front of every opponent, scoring 40-plus points every week, and rolling to a victory. While that run came against a schedule that featured just one playoff opponent, Plymouth has back plenty of experience from last year's title team, led by Garrett Macomber. The Bobcats will get a big test in the quarterfinals against a Souhegan team that found ways to keep games close.

No. 3 St. Thomas

• Record: 7-1.
• Last title: 2015 (Division II).
• Title game appearances: 1974, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015.
• Points scored: 290 (36.3).
• Points allowed: 114 (14.3).
• Record vs. playoff teams: 1-1.

The Saints got a chance to sit back and relax last week, as they didn't have their bye week until the final weekend of the regular season. St. Thomas has been led all season by Tim Bouchard - on offense, defense and special teams - and quarterback Shawn DeKorne. The Saints have scored over 40 points five times this season, including 42 against a Pelham team that shut out its last four opponents.

No. 4 Hanover

• Record: 8-0.
• Last title: 2005 (Division IV).
• Title game appearances: 1973, 1994, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005.
• Points scored: 277 (34.6).
• Points allowed: 65 (8.1).
• Record vs. playoff teams: 1-0.

The Marauders might be the least talked about team in the state this season despite going undefeated and having one of the best defenses. Hanover hasn't allowed more than 14 points in a game this year and has held five opponents under double digits. But the Marauders played just one team in the playoffs - John Stark in last week's finale - and the other seven teams on the schedule won a combined 13 games.

No. 5 Hollis Brookline

• Record: 6-2.
• Last title: None.
• Title game appearances: None.
• Points scored: 245 (30.6)
• Points allowed: 153 (19.1)
• Record vs. playoff teams: 1-1.

This is where the Cavaliers expected to be before the start of the season, although certainly not the path they expected to take. HB lost senior quarterback Joey Delaney to a broken collarbone on the eighth play of the season, but sophomore Sander Wimmer has stepped in and played well enough to get the Cavs into the playoffs for the third time in coach Chris Lones' four years. HB has scored 40 points or more four times this year, but will face a Hanover defense that is one of the best in the division.

No. 6 John Stark

• Record: 6-2.
• Last title: None.
• Title game appearances: None.
• Points scored: 191 (23.9).
• Points allowed: 95 (11.9).
• Record vs. playoff teams: 1-2.

The Generals are making their second straight playoff appearance after having not done so in any of the program's previous seasons. This season, John Stark has been doing it with defense, allowing no more than 22 points in any game this season, and giving up more than 14 just twice. While the offense has struggled at times, the Generals are still capable of putting up points, as they've topped 40 twice this season.

No. 7 Souhegan

• Record: 5-3.
• Last title: 2010 (Division III).
• Title game appearances: 1992, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010.
• Points scored: 211 (26.4).
• Points allowed: 144 (18.0).
• Record vs. playoff teams: 1-3.

The Sabers' blown halftime lead setup a classic New Hampshire football matchup, as they'll go to Plymouth for the first time since the 2007 Division III championship game. Souhegan had been a team that struggled to score at times, but stayed in games because of its defense. And then last week's loss to HB flipped that on its head, as the Sabers scored and allowed the most points they had all season.

No. 8 Bow

• Record: 6-2.
• Last title: 2013 (Division III).
• Title game appearances: 2004, 2013, 2016.
• Points scored: 267 (33.4)
• Points allowed: 75 (9.4).
• Record vs. playoff teams: 0-2.

The Falcons have turned in solid performances on both sides of the ball all season, scoring more than 40 points in five games and shutting out four opponents. But in it's only two games against playoff opponents, Bow has struggled to find the end zone, and no surprise then that those are the Falcons' two losses. They'll have to find a way to slow down a Windham offense that's scored over 40 points in each of its last three games.

Quarterfinals: Saturday, Nov. 4

• No. 8 Bow at No. 1 Windham, 1:30 p.m.
• No. 5 Hollis Brookline at No. 4 Hanover, 3 p.m.
• No. 7 Souhegan at No. 2 Plymouth, 1 p.m.
• No. 6 John Stark at No. 3 St. Thomas, 1 p.m.

Preseason playoff prediction

Playoff teams: Windham, Plymouth, St. Thomas, Hollis Brookline, Souhegan, Bow, Laconia, Milford.

Got six of the eight participants right, and while Laconia was a win or two away from getting in, Milford turned in one of its worst years in terms of record in a while.

Updated playoff prediction

Quarterfinal winners: Windham, Plymouth, St. Thomas, Hollis Brookline.

Most likely quarterfinal upset: Hollis Brookline over Hanover.

Championship: Plymouth over Windham.