Playoff Picture: Division II football

When the regular season is only eight games long, it's never too early to start thinking of the playoffs. Here's where the teams in Division II football stand after five weeks.

Note: The four conference winners automatically make the postseason, and the NHIAA will be using football rating to pick the remaining four teams. Teams are then seeded by football rating.

East Conference

1. St. Thomas (5-0, 12.8)
2. Merrimack Valley (2-3, 4.4)
3. Kingswood (1-3, 2.5)
4. Pembroke (1-4, 2.0)
5. Manchester West (0-4, 0.0)

North Conference

1. Kennett (4-1, 10.8)
2. Kearsarge (3-1, 9.5)
3. Lebanon (3-1, 9.5)*
4. Plymouth (1-3, 4.5)*
5. Laconia (2-3, 4.4)
6. Hanover (1-3, 3.0)

South Conference

1. Windham (5-0, 14.0)
2. Souhegan (3-1, 12.0)
3. Milford (4-1, 10.4)
4. Trinity (3-1, 8.0)
5. Pelham (0-4, 0.0)

West Conference

1. Monadnock (4-1, 10.0)
2. John Stark (2-3, 4.8)
3. ConVal (1-3, 2.5)*
4. Sanborn (1-3, 2.5)
5. Hollis Brookline (1-4, 2.4)

* - teams played an out-of-state opponent, which does not count in division standings.

Conference winners: Windham (14.0), St. Thomas (12.8), Kennett (10.8) and Monadnock (10.0).

Next four: Souhegan (12.0), Milford (10.4), Kearsarge (9.5) and Lebanon (9.5).

Quarterfinals: Lebanon at Windham; Kearsarge at St. Thomas; Monadnock at Souhegan; Milford at Kennett.

Key games this week: Trinity at Milford; Monadnock at Kearsarge; Laconia at Plymouth.