Playoff Picture: Division II football

The location of three of the four conference title games has been determined, and six of the eight postseason teams appear to be in place.

In the North and the South conference, the second spot in the conference championship is still up for grabs. The winner of Friday's Kearsarge-Laconia game will be taking on Kennett, and a win puts Trinity in against Windham. That's the easy part. A loss by Trinity opens the door for Milford or Souhegan to get in, depending on several things.

Here’s a look at the playoff picture for Division II.

East Conference

1. St. Thomas (6-1, 11.71)
2. Merrimack Valley (4-3, 8.57)
3. Kingswood (3-4, 5.43)
4. Pembroke (2-5, 3.14
5. Manchester West (1-6, 2.00)

If the conference title game was this week: Merrimack Valley at St. Thomas. Regardless of what happens when St. Thomas hosts Trinity this weekend, the Saints will be hosting the championship game. Merrimack Valley will be the opponent, even if it loses this week to Pembroke and Kingswood upsets Kennett, because it will finish with a better rating then Kingswood.

Clinched: St. Thomas, Merrimack Valley.

Eliminated: Kingswood, Pembroke, Manchester West.

North Conference

1. Kennett (7-0, 16.00)
2. Laconia (4-3, 8.86)
3. Lebanon (4-3, 8.57)
4. Kearsarge (4-3, 8.29)
5. Plymouth (3-4, 7.43)
6. Hanover (1-6, 2.00)

If the conference title game was this week: Laconia at Kennett. A rematch of last Friday's game, won in comeback fashion by Kennett. The Eagles have wrapped up home field for the title game and can clinch the No. 2 seed with a win over Kingswood. Who Kennett will play comes down to this weekend, with the winner of the Kearsarge-Laconia game earning a trip to North Conway. Lebanon's loss to Kearsarge last week eliminated the Raiders from the postseason, as even if Lebanon beats ConVal this week, it will finish with a rating lower than the winner of the Kearsarge-Laconia game.

Clinched: Kennett.

Eliminated: Lebanon, Plymouth, Hanover.

South Conference

1. Windham (7-0, 16.29)
2. Trinity (5-2, 10.29)
3. Milford (4-3, 8.86)
4. Souhegan (4-3, 8.29)
5. Pelham (2-5, 3.71)

If the conference title game was this week: Trinity at Windham. The Jaguars guaranteed themselves of being home again for the conference championship game with last week's win over Milford. If Trinity beats St. Thomas, than the Pioneers will be going to Windham for the title game. If Trinity loses and Milford beats Manchester West, things get interesting. If Trinity and Milford both lose, and Souhegan beats Pelham, there's even a chance the Sabers could end up in the title game.

Clinched: Windham.

Eliminated: Pelham.

West Conference

1. Sanborn (4-3, 8.28)
2. Hollis Brookline (4-4, 7.50)
3. John Stark (2-5, 3.71)
4. Monadnock (2-5, 3.71)
5. ConVal (1-6, 2.29)

If the conference title game was this week: Hollis Brookline at Sanborn. HB can rest easy during its bye week, knowing that it took care of business with last week's win over Monadnock. A win over John Stark this week will give Sanborn home field for the title game. If Sanborn loses, than HB would get to host the championship game.

Clinched: Sanborn, Hollis Brookline.

Eliminated: Monadnock, John Stark, ConVal.

Key games on the schedule

• Friday, Oct. 31: Souhegan at Pelham.
• Friday, Oct. 31: Milford at Manchester West.
• Friday, Oct. 31: Kearsarge at Laconia.
• Saturday, Nov. 1: Trinity at St. Thomas.
• Saturday, Nov. 1: Monadnock at Windham.
• Saturday, Nov. 1: John Stark at Sanborn.

Postseason schedule

• Conference championship games: Saturday, Nov. 8, at home of higher seed, 1 p.m.
• Semifinals: Saturday, Nov. 15, at home of higher seed, 1 p.m.
• Championship: Saturday, Nov. 22, at University of New Hampshire, 2:30 p.m.