Playoff Picture: Division II football
It's been a tough opening month for the Souhegan High School football team, but the Sabers knew that'd be the case heading into this season. Souhegan opened the year with a road game against John Stark, a team that was expected to be at the top of the North Conference, and after a home game against
It's been a tough opening month for the Souhegan High School football team, but the Sabers knew that'd be the case heading into this season.
Souhegan opened the year with a road game against John Stark, a team that was expected to be at the top of the North Conference, and after a home game against Trinity, played three of last year's semifinalists.
The first game didn't go so well, as the Sabers fell to St. Thomas last Saturday, 31-12. It doesn't get any easier this week, with Windham coming to Amherst, and after that, it's a visit to Milford.
But it's possible that, even if Souhegan goes 1-4 to start the season, the Sabers could still reach the playoffs, thanks to this year's format. With the division now broken up into two conferences, the only guaranteed spots belong to the teams that finish first on each side. After that, it's the six next best teams, based on football rating.
Of course, in order to get a football rating high enough, Souhegan - or any team, for that matter - needs to win some games.
Here's a look at what the Division II postseason would like if it started this week.
North Conference
- x-John Stark (3-0), 12.00 rating
- x-Plymouth (3-0), 12.00
- x-Hanover (3-0), 10.67
- x-Bow (3-0), 10.67
- Kennett (2-1), 6.67
- Lebanon (2-1), 6.67
- Laconia (1-2), 3.33
- Gilford-Belmont (0-3), 0.00
- Merrimack Valley (0-3), 0.00
- Kingswood (0-3), 0.00
- Pembroke (0-3), 0.00
South Conference
- x-Windham (3-0), 13.33
- x-St. Thomas (3-0), 11.33
- x-Milford (2-1), 8.00
- x-Hollis Brookline (2-1), 8.00
- ConVal (2-1), 6.67
- Souhegan (1-2), 4.00
- Trinity (1-2), 3.33
- Sanborn (1-2), 3.33
- Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton (1-2), 3.33
- Pelham (0-3), 0.00
- Manchester West (0-3), 0.00
Playoff teams: Bow, Hanover, Hollis Brookline, John Stark, Milford, Plymouth, St. Thomas, Windham.
Quarterfinal matchups: No. 8 Milford at No. 1 Windham; No. 7 Hollis Brookline at No. 2 John Stark; No. 6 Hanover at No. 3 Plymouth; No. 5 Bow at No. 4 St. Thomas.
Scenarios: John Stark and Plymouth are currently tied for the top spot in the North, and Bow and Hanover are tied for third. Hollis Brookline and Milford are tied for third in the South. Windham is the top seed at the moment based on its higher rating.
Games to watch this week: Windham at Souhegan, Friday, 7 p.m.; St. Thomas at Kennett, Friday, 7 p.m.; Lebanon at Hanover, Friday, 7 p.m.; Plymouth at Bow, Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
