Playoff Picture: Division II football (Sept. 21)
While a good portion of the state is whetting its football appetite with rivalry games, there's a championship rematch taking place up North that could end up with a sequel in November.
While a good portion of the state is whetting its football appetite with rivalry games, there's a championship rematch taking place up North that could end up with a sequel in November.
Plymouth (3-0) plays host to Bow (3-0) in a showdown that will have big implications toward the postseason field in Division II, just like it did a year ago. The Bobcats' win in 2016 helped them end up with a higher seed than the Falcons, and Plymouth ended up beating Bow in the championship game on a late touchdown.
Remarkably, those were the last points the Falcons' defense have allowed, as Bow opened its season with three shutouts in a row, outscoring opponents 125-0. Bow is one of two teams - Campbell in D3 is the other - who hasn't allowed a point yet this year.
Plymouth's defense hasn't been far behind, as the Bobcats have allowed just 21 points all season.
Here’s a look at what the D2 postseason would be like if it started this week.
North Conference
- x-Plymouth (3-0), 11.33
- x-Bow (3-0), 10.67
- x-Hanover (3-0), 10.67
- x-John Stark (2-1), 7.33
- Lebanon (1-1), 5.00
- Kennett (1-1), 5.00
- Laconia (1-2), 3.33
- Merrimack Valley (0-3), 0.00
- Kingswood (0-3), 0.00
- Gilford-Belmont (0-3), 0.00
- Pembroke (0-2), 0.00
South Conference
- x-St. Thomas (3-0), 12.00
- x-Windham (3-0), 12.00
- x-ConVal (3-0), 10.67
- x-Souhegan (1-1), 7.00
- Hollis Brookline (1-1), 6.00
- Milford (1-2), 4.00
- Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton (1-2), 3.33
- Sanborn (1-2), 3.33
- Pelham (1-2), 3.33
- Manchester West (0-3), 0.00
Playoff teams: Plymouth, Hanover, Bow, John Stark, Windham, St. Thomas, ConVal, Souhegan.
Quarterfinal matchups: No. 8 Souhegan at No. 1 St. Thomas; No. 7 John Stark at No. 2 Plymouth; No. 6 Hanover at No. 3 Windham; No. 5 Bow at No. 4 ConVal.
Tiebreakers
- St. Thomas wins the tiebreaker with Windham for the top seed thanks to a better quality of wins against tournament teams. Plymouth is the No. 2 seed as the top team in the North Conference, meaning Windham drops to No. 3.
- ConVal and Bow finish ahead of Hanover in a three-way tiebreaker thanks to a higher number of road wins.
- ConVal wins the tiebreaker with Bow thanks to a win over a higher seeded team.
Games to watch this week: Souhegan at Windham Friday, 7 p.m.; Sanborn at ConVal, Friday, 7 p.m.; Hanover at Lebanon, Friday, 7 p.m.; Bow at Plymouth, Saturday, 2 p.m.; Kennett at St. Thomas, Saturday, 7 p.m.
