Playoff Picture: Division II football (Oct. 2)
For many teams in Division II, this weekend will be about survival. With the division schedule cut down to just eight games, it's looking more and more like any team with more than two losses is going to be on the outside when the postseason begins. For that to not be the case, it's a must-win week
For many teams in Division II, this weekend will be about survival.
With the division schedule cut down to just eight games, it's looking more and more like any team with more than two losses is going to be on the outside when the postseason begins. For that to not be the case, it's a must-win week for teams like Milford, Laconia, Lebanon, Souhegan and Kennett.
While Lebanon and Laconia would need a lot of help aside from getting a win this week, Milford and Kennett could really help themselves out with a win over St. Thomas or Bow, respectively. Getting a win over a team with a winning record helps out each team's rating, which is ultimately what determines who is in and who is out.
Meanwhile, Souhegan can't afford to have any slipups after an opening four weeks against teams that are a combined 15-5.
Here’s a look at what the D2 postseason would be like if it started this week.
Note: Standings based off results reported to NHIAA.org and other media outlets. These are not official pairings.
North Conference
- x-Plymouth (5-0), 12.8000
- x-Hanover (5-0), 11.2000
- x-John Stark (4-1), 9.2000
- Bow (3-1), 8.0000
- Kennett (2-2), 5.5000
- Laconia (2-3), 4.0000
- Lebanon (1-3), 2.5000
- Pembroke (0-4), 0.0000
- Gilford-Belmont (0-4), 0.0000
- Kingswood (0-4), 0.0000
- Merrimack Valley (0-5), 0.0000
South Conference
- x-Windham (5-0), 14.8000
- x-ConVal (4-0), 12.5000
- x-St. Thomas (4-1), 10.8000
- x-Hollis Brookline (3-1), 9.0000
- x-Souhegan (2-2), 8.0000
- Sanborn (2-3), 4.8000
- Milford (2-3), 4.8000
- Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton (1-3), 3.0000
- Pelham (1-3), 2.5000
- Manchester West (1-4), 2.0000
Playoff teams: Plymouth, Hanover, John Stark, Windham, ConVal, St. Thomas, Hollis Brookline, Souhegan.
Top seeds
- Plymouth is the top seed in the North Conference
- Windham is the top seed in the South Conference
- Windham is the No. 1 overall seed thanks to a better rating than Plymouth.
Tiebreakers
- Souhegan wins the tiebreaker with Bow thanks to a better rating against tournament teams.
Quarterfinal matchups: No. 8 Souhegan at No. 1 Windham; No. 7 Hollis Brookline at No. 2 Plymouth; No. 6 John Stark at No. 3 ConVal; No. 5 St. Thomas at No. 4 Hanover.
Games to watch this week: Hollis Brookline at ConVal, Friday, 7 p.m.; St. Thomas at Milford, Friday, 7 p.m.; Souhegan at Manchester West, Friday, 6 p.m.; Kennett at Bow, Saturday, 2 p.m.; Laconia at Lebanon, Saturday, 6 p.m.
