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 six 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 (6-0, 12.67)
2. Merrimack Valley (2-3, 4.80)
3. Kingswood (2-3, 4.80)
4. Pembroke (1-5, 1.67)
5. Manchester West (0-5, 0.0)

North Conference

1. Kennett (4-1, 11.20)
2. Kearsarge (4-1, 11.20)
3. Lebanon (4-1, 10.80)*
4. Laconia (3-3, 5.67)
5. Plymouth (1-4, 3.60)*
6. Hanover (1-4, 2.80)

South Conference

1. Windham (5-0, 15.20)
2. Souhegan (4-1, 12.80)
3. Milford (5-1, 12.33)
4. Trinity (3-2, 6.40)
5. Pelham (0-5, 0.0)

West Conference

1. Monadnock (4-2, 9.00)
2. John Stark (3-3, 6.33)
3. Hollis Brookline (2-4, 3.67)
4. Sanborn (1-4, 2.40)
5. ConVal (1-4, 2.00)*

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

Conference winners: Windham (15.20), St. Thomas (12.67), Kennett (11.20) and Monadnock (9.0). Kennett gets the spot over Kearsarge thanks to a head-to-head win.

Next four: Souhegan (12.80), Milford (12.33), Kearsarge (11.20) and Lebanon (10.80). Same four teams as last week, although Laconia, Trinity, John Stark and Merrimack Valley are still in the mix.

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

Key games this week: Trinity at Souhegan; Merrimack Valley at Laconia; Lebanon at Kennett.