Playoff Picture: Division II Football (Nov. 1)

Here is a look at the standings going into the final week of the regular season and a breakdown of what could happen for each team still in contention, including lowest possible football rating, highest possible rating and predicted rating.

Note: Standings based off results reported to NHIAA.org and other media outlets. These are not official standings or pairings.

Division II

The top seed in each conference, determined by football rating, will receive the top two seeds. The remaining six playoff spots will be determined by football rating and seeded 3-8.

East Conference

Team (division record, rating, last week)

• *Plymouth (8-0, 17.2500, 1st)
• *Trinity (7-1, 15.0000, 3rd)
• *Bow (5-3, 10.2500, 5th)
• St. Thomas (4-4, 6.7500)
• Merrimack Valley (3-5, 6.0000, 8th)
• x-Kennett (2-6, 4.2500)
• x-Kingswood (2-6, 3.2500)
• x-Pembroke (2-6, 3.0000)

West Conference

Team (division record, rating, last week)

• *Pelham (8-1, 15.5556, 2nd)
• *Souhegan (7-2, 12.6667, 4th)
• *John Stark (5-3, 9.5000, 7th)
• *Manchester West (5-3, 8.2500, 6th)
• Hanover (4-4, 6.5000)
• x-ConVal (3-5, 4.5000)
• x-Milford (1-8, 1.1111)
• x-Hollis Brookline (0-9, 0.0000)

Quarterfinals (changes in bold)

• No. 8 St.  Thomas at No. 1 Plymouth
• No. 5 Bow at No. 4 Souhegan
• No. 7 Manchester West at No. 2 Pelham
• No. 6 John Stark at No. 3 Trinity

Playoff Dates

• Quarterfinals: Saturday, Nov. 9, 1 p.m. at higher seed*
• Semifinals: Saturday, Nov. 16, 1 p.m. at higher seed*
• Championship: Saturday, Nov. 23, 1 p.m. at TBD

* – can be changed to Friday night upon mutual agreement.

Scenarios

Plymouth

• Game: at St. Thomas, Friday, 6 p.m.
• Wins: Milford, Kennett, Trinity, Kingswood, Bow, Pembroke, Souhegan, Merrimack Valley.
• Lowest possible rating: 16.0000.
• Highest possible rating: 18.0000.
• Likely rating: 18.0000.

Plymouth will clinch the East Conference and the No. 1 overall seed with a win over St. Thomas. A loss could drop the Bobcats to No. 3.

Pelham

• Game: None.
• Wins: Milford, Manchester West, Hanover, Souhegan, John Stark, ConVal, Bow, Hollis Brookline.
• Lowest possible rating: 16.0000.
• Highest possible rating: 16.2222.
• Likely rating: 16.0000.

Pelham has clinched the West Conference and will be the No. 2 seed, unless Plymouth loses to St. Thomas and Bow beats Trinity. Then the Pythons would be the No. 1 seed.

Trinity

• Game: vs. Bow, Friday, 7 p.m.
• Wins: Hanover, Kingswood, Pembroke, Merrimack Valley, St. Thomas, Pelham, Kennett.
• Lowest possible rating: 13.7778.
• Highest possible rating: 16.4444.
• Likely rating: 16.0000.

Trinity will likely be the No. 3 seed with a win or a loss to Bow. A win could move the Pioneers up to No. 1 if Plymouth loses and Hanover beats Manchester West.

Souhegan

• Game: None.
• Wins: Milford, Hanover, Manchester West, Hollis Brookline, John Stark, ConVal, St. Thomas.
• Lowest possible rating: 13.1111.
• Highest possible rating: 13.3333.
• Likely rating: 13.1111.

Souhegan has clinched the No. 4 seed in the playoffs.

Bow

• Game: at Trinity, Friday, 7 p.m.
• Wins: Merrimack Valley, Pembroke, Kingswood, St. Thomas, John Stark.
• Lowest possible rating: 9.3333.
• Highest possible rating: 12.6667.
• Likely rating: 9.7778.

Bow would clinch the No. 5 seed with a win over Trinity or a loss and a John Stark loss to ConVal. The Falcons would be No. 6 with a loss and a John Stark win.

John Stark

• Game: vs. ConVal, Saturday, 1 p.m.
• Wins: Hanover, Manchester West, Merrimack Valley, Milford, Hollis Brookline.
• Lowest possible rating: 8.6667.
• Highest possible rating: 10.6667.
• Likely rating: 10.6667.

John Stark would clinch the No. 5 seed with a win over ConVal and a Bow loss to Trinity. A win would mean the Generals are no lower than the No. 6 seed, while a loss could drop them to No. 7 or 8.

Manchester West

• Game: vs. Hanover, Friday, 7 p.m.
• Wins: Pembroke, ConVal, Kingswood, Milford, Hollis Brookline.
• Lowest possible rating: 7.3333.
• Highest possible rating: 10.0000.
• Likely rating: 9.5556.

West has clinched a playoff spot. A win over Hanover could move the Blue Knights as high as No. 5 if Bow and John Stark both lose, but they would most likely be the No. 7 seed. A loss would put West at No. 8.

St. Thomas

• Game: vs. Plymouth, Friday, 6 p.m.
• Wins: Pembroke, Kingswood, Kennett, Milford.
• Lowest possible rating: 6.2222.
• Highest possible rating: 9.3333.
• Likely rating: 6.2222.

St. Thomas needs a win over Plymouth to clinch a playoff spot or a loss and a loss by Hanover and Merrimack Valley.

Hanover

• Game: at Manchester West, Friday, 7 p.m.
• Wins: ConVal, Kennett, Milford, Hollis Brookline.
• Lowest possible rating: 5.7778.
• Highest possible rating: 8.4444.
• Likely rating: 5.7778.

Hanover would clinch the No. 7 seed with a win over Manchester West. A loss would eliminate the Bears.

Merrimack Valley

• Game: vs. Pembroke, Friday, 6:30 p.m.
• Wins: St. Thomas, Kennett, ConVal.
• Lowest possible rating: 5.3333.
• Highest possible rating: 7.5556.
• Likely rating: 6.8889.

Merrimack Valley clinches a playoff spot with a win over Pembroke and losses by St. Thomas and Hanover. A loss eliminated the Pride.