Playoff Picture: Football (Oct. 29)

The football regular season is done and here is what we expect the playoffs for all four divisions to look like when pairings are released by the NHIAA on Monday.

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

Division I

In 2023, the top team in each conference, determined by football rating, will receive the top three seeds and get a first-round bye. The remaining 10 playoff spots will be determined by football rating and seeded 4-13.

Central Conference

Team (record, rating)

1. x-Pinkerton (8-0, 17.7500)
2. x-Londonderry (7-1, 15.5000)
3. x-Salem (6-2, 11.2500)
4. x-Alvirne (4-4, 6.2500)
5. x-Windham (2-5, 5.5000)
6. e-Manchester Central (2-7, 2.6667)
7. e-Concord (1-6, 2.0000)

East Conference

Team (record, rating)

1. x-Portsmouth-Oyster River (8-0, 16.2500)
2. x-Exeter (6-2, 12.2500)
3. x-Dover (5-3, 8.7500)
4. x-Spaulding (4-4, 6.2500)
5. e-Timberlane (3-5, 5.2500)
6. e-Manchester Memorial (1-7, 1.5000)
7. e-Winnacunnet (1-7, 1.5000)

West Conference

Team (record, rating)

1. x-Bedford (8-0, 16.0000)
2. x-Nashua North (5-3, 9.5000)
3. x-Bishop Guertin (5-3, 9.0000)
4. x-Keene (4-4, 6.2500)
5. e-Merrimack (2-6, 3.5000)
6. e-Nashua South (1-7, 1.7500)
7. e-Goffstown (1-8, 1.3333)

x – clinched a playoff spot.

e – eliminated from playoffs.

Tiebreakers

• In a three-way tiebreaker, Alvirne finishes ahead of Spaulding and Keene thanks to a better football rating in road games against divisional opponents.
• Spaulding wins the tiebreaker with Keene thanks to having more overall road wins, regardless of division or state.

Remaining Games

• Saturday: Concord at Windham, 2 p.m.

First-Round Byes

• No. 1 Pinkerton
• No. 2 Portsmouth-Oyster River
• No. 3 Bedford

Current First-Round Matchups

• No. 9 Dover at No. 8 Bishop Guertin
• No. 13 Windham at No. 4 Londonderry
• No. 12 Keene at No. 5 Exeter
• No. 10 Alvirne at No. 7 Nashua North
• No. 11 Spaulding at No. 6 Salem

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 (record, rating)

1. x-Plymouth (8-1, 16.4444)
2. x-St. Thomas (6-3, 11.7778)
3. x-Sanborn (6-3, 11.7778)
4. x-Bow (5-4, 9.1111)
5. x-Kennett (5-4, 8.6667)
6. e-Gilford-Belmont (4-5, 7.7778)
7. e-Merrimack Valley (4-5, 7.1111)
8. e-Laconia (3-5, 6.0000)
9. e-Pembroke (1-8, 1.3333)

West Conference

Team (record, rating)

1. x-Pelham (8-0, 17.0000)
2. x-Souhegan (7-1, 14.5000)
3. x-John Stark (5-3, 8.7500)
4. e-Hanover (4-4, 6.5000)
5. e-Milford (3-5, 4.5000)
6. e-Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton (2-6, 2.7500)
7. e-Manchester West (1-7, 1.2500)
8. e-Hollis Brookline (0-8, 0.0000)

x – clinched a playoff spot.

e – eliminated from playoffs.

Tiebreakers

• St. Thomas wins the tiebreaker with Sanborn thanks to a head-to-head victory.

Quarterfinal Matchups

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

Division III

The top four teams in the division, determined by football rating, will make the playoffs and be seeded 1-4.

Team (record, rating)

1. x-Campbell (9-0, 18.0000)
2. x-Trinity (8-1, 15.1111)
3. x-Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough (7-2, 12.4444)
4. x-Monadnock (5-4, 8.4444)
5. e-Fall Mountain (5-4, 8.0000)
6. e-Stevens (4-5, 6.0000)
7. e-ConVal (3-6, 4.8889)
8. e-Kingswood (2-7, 2.8889)
9. e-Epping-Newmarket (2-7, 2.6667)
10. e-Kearsarge (0-9, 0.0000)

x – clinched a playoff spot.

e – eliminated from the playoffs.

Semifinal Matchups

• No. 4 Monadnock at No. 1 Campbell
• No. 3 Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough at No. 2 Trinity

Division IV

The top four teams in the division, determined by football rating, will make the playoffs and be seeded 1-4.

Team (record, rating)

1. x-Newport (7-0, 16.0000)
2. x-Somersworth (6-1, 12.8571)
3. x-Raymond (5-2, 10.0000)
4. x-Bishop Brady (3-4, 5.4286)
5. e-Franklin (3-4, 5.4286)
6. e-Mascoma Valley (3-4, 5.4286)
7. e-Winnisquam (1-6, 1.6667)
8. e-Newfound (0-7, 0.0000)

x – clinched a playoff spot

e – eliminated from the playoffs.

Tiebreakers

• In a three-way tiebreaker, Bishop Brady finishes ahead of Franklin and Mascoma Valley thanks to a better rating in divisional road games

Semifinal Matchups

• No. 4 Bishop Brady at No. 1 Newport
• No. 3 Raymond at No. 2 Somersworth