Playoff Preview: Division I football

Is this the year the little guys take over?

Heading into Saturday's Division I football quarterfinals, three of the four teams that will host games are three of the four smallest schools in the 20-team division, and they are a combined 26-1.

Of course, in the fourth game, the state's largest school (Pinkerton) will play at the state's second-largest school (Nashua South). The other three teams in the D1 playoffs are also from the top eight largest schools.

With Winnacunnet's playoff berth this season, that means that 18 of the 20 programs in D1 have made the playoffs since the switch to the larger division before the 2013 season. Only Manchester Memorial, which came close in 2014, and Dover, which was a last-second touchdown away last season, have yet to make the playoffs in this format.

So what can you expect when these teams take the field on Saturday? Here’s a closer look at all the teams that are in this year’s playoff field.

North/East Cluster

No. 1 Winnacunnet

• Record: 9-0.
• Last title: 2012 (Division II).
• Title game appearances: 1977, 1983, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2012.
• Points scored: 347 (38.6)
• Points allowed: 106 (13.25)
• Record vs. playoff teams: 3-0.

The Warriors get their first taste of the big dance, as they are in the Division I postseason for the first time since moving up in 2013. Winnacunnet won games early in the season behind the strength of its defense, including a stretch against the other three playoff teams in the cluster in which the Warriors allowed a total of 21 points (7.0 per game). In the final four games of the regular season, Winnacunnet averaged better than 55 points per game.

No. 2 Goffstown

• Record: 8-1.
• Last title: 2015 (Division I).
• Title game appearances: 2012, 2015.
• Points scored: 236 (26.2).
• Points allowed: 91 (10.1).
• Record vs. playoff teams: 2-1.

The Grizzlies have been winning games this year with one of the best defenses in the state and an offense that makes timely plays in order to get that defense a lead. Against the four other top teams in the cluster - including Manchester Central - Goffstown's defense allowed just 27 total points. The Grizzlies have now made three straight playoff appearances in Division I, and in coach Justin Hufft's seven years, Goffstown has been to the postseason five times.

No. 3 Exeter

• Record: 7-2.
• Last title: 2012 (Division I).
• Title game appearances: 1973, 1976, 1983, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016.
• Points scored: 288 (32.0).
• Points allowed: 136 (15.1).
• Record vs. playoff teams: 1-2.

The unthinkable looked like it could happen in late September, as the Blue Hawks had lost two games in a row - scoring a total of 14 points - and were tied late in the fourth quarter with Bedford. But a game-winning, last-second field goal started Exeter on a five-game win streak, a run which has seen the Blue Hawks play their more consistent, mistake-free version of football.

No. 4 Bedford

• Record: 6-3.
• Last title: 2016 (Division I).
• Title game appearances: 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016.
• Points scored: 335 (37.2).
• Points allowed: 141 (15.6).
• Record vs. playoff teams: 0-3.

The Bulldogs have been two different teams throughout this season. Against non-playoff teams, Bedford has averaged 49.8 points and gone 6-0; against playoff teams, the Bulldogs have scored 36 points total and gone 0-3. Injuries took a toll on Bedford midseason, but the Bulldogs bounced back to win their final three games, including last week's must-win against Central.

East/West Cluster

No. 1 Salem

• Record: 9-0.
• Last title: 2009 (Division I).
• Title game appearances: 1974, 1975, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1995, 2005, 2006, 2009.
• Points scored: 401 (44.6)
• Points allowed: 126 (14.0)
• Record vs. playoff teams: 3-0.

The Blue Devils had the most consistent offense in the division this season, scoring at least 35 points in every game, and breaking 40 in seven. That was despite missing running back Josh Sibanda for a three-game stretch midseason. Salem also hasn't played in a game that was close in the second half since Week 3 against Pinkerton.

No. 2 Nashua South

• Record: 7-2.
• Last title: 2008 (Division I).
• Title game appearances: 1978, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2008.
• Points scored: 307 (34.1).
• Points allowed: 204 (22.7).
• Record vs. playoff teams: 1-2.

Since starting the season 0-2, the Panthers have won seven games in a row, becoming just the third team since 2013 to lose their first two games and make the Division I playoffs. South has done it behind its offense, which scored just 20 points in the first two games of the season, but has averaged 41 points per game during the win streak, including 40-plus in the last five.

No. 3 Pinkerton

• Record: 8-1.
• Last title: 2014 (Division I).
• Title game appearances: 1981, 1985, 1986, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014.
• Points scored: 401 (44.6).
• Points allowed: 115 (12.8).
• Record vs. playoff teams: 2-1.

Pinkerton's offense was playing at another level over the final five weeks of the regular season, averaging 54 points per game. The Astros stable of running backs make it hard to figure out who has the ball until it's too late. Perhaps the scariest thing about Pinkerton is that most of its starting lineup will be back in 2018.

No. 4 Londonderry

• Record: 6-3.
• Last title: 1998 (Division I).
• Title game appearances: 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001.
• Points scored: 243 (27.0)
• Points allowed: 167 (18.6).
• Record vs. playoff teams: 0-3.

Much like Bedford in the other cluster, the Lancers have been two different teams all season, but on defense. Against non-playoff teams, Londonderry has allowed fewer than 10 points per game, including two shutouts. But against playoff teams, the Lancers have given up an average of 37.3 points.

Quarterfinals: Saturday, Nov. 4

• No. 4 Bedford at No. 1 Winnacunnet, 3 p.m.
• No. 3 Exeter at No. 2 Goffstown, 1 p.m.
• No. 4 Londonderry at No. 1 Salem, 3 p.m.
• No. 3 Pinkerton at No. 2 Nashua South, 1 p.m.

Preseason playoff prediction

North/East cluster: Bedford, Exeter, Dover, Manchester Central.

South/West cluster: Salem. Nashua South, Merrimack, Bishop Guertin.

Also known as the "what was I thinking?" portion of the preview. While I had two teams right on each cluster, and Central was in line for a playoff spot for most of the season, my other predictions were a whiff. So that means, let's try again.

Updated playoff prediction

Quarterfinal winners: Winnacunnet, Exeter, Salem, Pinkerton.

Most likely quarterfinal upset: Exeter over Goffstown.

Championship: Salem over Winnacunnet.