Playoff Picture: Division II Football (Oct. 17)
The list of playoff contenders is still long in Division II, and while some teams have a better shot than others, they field really still looks to be wide open. A lot of that can be credited to the playoff structure for the division, which seeds the top team in each conference as the first two seeds
The list of playoff contenders is still long in Division II, and while some teams have a better shot than others, they field really still looks to be wide open.
A lot of that can be credited to the playoff structure for the division, which seeds the top team in each conference as the first two seeds, and then the next six best teams (according to football rating) fill out the other spots. Doesn't matter what conference you're in, which means teams that currently sit fifth or sixth in the North or South could get in without having to leap over the teams in front of them.
But this year, some of that can also be attributed to the balance within the division, in scheduling and in competition. Yes, the North Conference is a bit top heavy, but as the second-to-last week of the regular season approaches, there are 11 teams that have a shot at getting one of the eight playoff spots.
A couple of teams are playing for their postseason lives this week, with John Stark (hosting Hanover), Hollis Brookline (at Alvirne) and Pelham (at St. Thomas) facing must-win situations in order to avoid a fourth loss. No team in the last two years had made the D2 postseason with more than three losses.
Here’s what the D2 postseason would look like if it started this week.
North Conference
- Plymouth (7-0), 16.5714
- Bow (6-1), 12.8571
- Hanover (6-1), 11.7143
- John Stark (4-3), 6.5714
- Gilford-Belmont (4-3), 6.5714
- Kennett (2-5), 2.8571
- Kingswood (1-6), 1.4286
- Merrimack Valley (0-7), 0.0000
- Pembroke (0-7), 0.0000
South Conference
- St. Thomas (6-1), 14.0000
- Alvirne (6-1), 13.1429
- Milford (5-2), 10.8571
- Souhegan (4-3), 8.5714
- Hollis Brookline (4-3), 8.2857
- Pelham (4-3), 7.4286
- Manchester West (2-5), 3.1429
- Sanborn (1-6), 2.0000
- ConVal (1-6), 1.7143
Playoff teams: Plymouth, St. Thomas, Alvirne, Bow, Hanover, Milford, Souhegan, Hollis Brookline.
In the hunt: Pelham, John Stark, Gilford-Belmont.
Quarterfinals: No. 8 Hollis Brookline at No. 1 Plymouth; No. 5 Hanover at No. 4 Bow; No. 7 Souhegan at No. 2 St. Thomas; No. 6 Milford at No. 3 Alvirne.
Games to watch: Hollis Brookline at Alvirne, Friday, 7 p.m.; Kennett at Bow, Saturday, 2 p.m.; Hanover at John Stark, Saturday, 2 p.m.; Pelham at St. Thomas, Saturday, 7 p.m.
