Playoff Preview: Division I football

The high school football playoffs are about to get underway, and this year's field looks quite a bit different.

For the first time since 2002, the Division I field does not include Pinkerton Academy, which finished the season at 4-5 and in third place in the South Conference. That means for just the third time since 2004, the Astros won't play for the division title.

In Pinkerton's place is a team that hasn't made a postseason appearance in over a decade. Merrimack snapped an 11-year playoff drought by winning the South, and the Tomahawks will be looking for a win in the postseason for the first time since 1995.

With Merrimack getting into the postseason, it also means that now 17 of 20 teams currently in the division have played in a playoff game since 2013 (Dover,Winnacunnet and Manchester Memorial have not).

Here's a closer look at all the teams that are in this year's playoff field.

North/South Cluster

No. 1 Bedford

• Record: 9-0.
• Last title: Never.
• Title game appearances: 2011 (Division III), 2012 (Division II), 2014.
• Points scored: 296 (32.9)
• Points allowed: 96 (10.67)
• Record vs. playoff teams: 3-0.

Since opening the season by allowing 20 points to Merrimack and 32 points to Timberlane, the Bedford defense has given up just 44 points in seven games, with three shutouts. Getting the No. 1 seed was important for the Bulldogs, as they've won 15 games in a row at home, including playoff games, and are 4-1 at home in the postseason.  Since 2013, Bedford has a 36-6 record.

No. 2 Merrimack

• Record: 8-1.
• Last title: 1987 (Division II).
• Title game appearances: 1979, 1980, 1987, 1988, 1995.
• Points scored: 398 (44.2).
• Points allowed: 158 (17.6).
• Record vs. playoff teams: 2-1.

With weapons all over the field, Merrimack quarterback Justin Grassini is on the verge of setting the state record for touchdown passes in a season, needing one to break the tie. While the Tomahawks defense has surrendered points at times this year, no one has been able to keep pace with Merrimack's offense, outside of Bedford in Week 1.

No. 3 Goffstown

• Record: 7-2.
• Last title: 2015.
• Title game appearances: 2012 (Division III), 2015.
• Points scored: 245 (27.2).
• Points allowed: 206 (22.9).
• Record vs. playoff teams: 1-2.

The defending champs have faced a lot of adversity going into this year's postseason, whether it was injuries to key players, like Andrew Duval, or playing what felt like a close game every week. Goffstown showed that it could win games any way it needed to, holding four opponents to 14 points or less, and scoring 35 points or more four times.

No. 4 Salem

• Record: 6-3.
• Last title: 2009.
• Title game appearances: 1974, 1975, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 2005, 2006, 2009.
• Points scored: 274 (30.4).
• Points allowed: 194 (21.6).
• Record vs. playoff teams: 0-3.

The Blue Devils are the only team on this side of the bracket that doesn't run a spread offense, and relies heavily on its running backs. One of those backs, junior Josh Sibanda, left last week's game early with an injury and his status for Saturday is unknown.

East/West Cluster

No. 1 Exeter

• Record: 8-1.
• Last title: 2012.
• Title game appearances: 1973, 1976, 1983, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2015.
• Points scored: 324 (36.0)
• Points allowed: 137 (15.2)
• Record vs. playoff teams: 3-0.

The loss to Portsmouth on Sept. 30 seems like a distant memory now, and the Blue Hawks finished out the regular season with four straight wins. Three of those came against the three other playoff teams in the cluster, including a 35-14 win over Nashua South on Oct. 14.

No. 2 Nashua North

• Record: 7-2.
• Last title: Never.
• Title game appearances: 2009, 2010.
• Points scored: 336 (37.3).
• Points allowed: 216 (24).
• Record vs. playoff teams: 2-1.

North started last week's win over Bishop Guertin looking like the team that got blown out by Exeter earlier in the season, but flipped the switch and turned into the team that scored 40 or more points in give games this year. Which team will show up Saturday against the Cardinals? No idea, but it would be surprising if the Titans are able to score almost 70 points against Bishop Guertin two weeks in a row.

No. 3 Bishop Guertin

• Record: 6-3.
• Last title: 2011.
• Title game appearances: 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011.
• Points scored: 311 (34.6).
• Points allowed: 286 (31.8).
• Record vs. playoff teams: 1-2.

Of the eight playoff teams, Bishop Guertin has allowed the most points on defense, but the Cardinals certainly have the offense to get into a shootout with anyone. Quarterback Sam Raitt picked up where JT Hiscoe left off last year, and regardless of this weekend's outcome, the junior should be on of the top players at his position next year.

No. 4 Nashua South

• Record: 6-3.
• Last title: 2008.
• Title game appearances: 1978, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2008.
• Points scored: 347 (38.6)
• Points allowed: 264 (29.3).
• Record vs. playoff teams: 0-3.

The Panthers have been playing postseason games for two weeks already, needing wins over Portsmouth and Dover just to keep the season going. Much like Bishop Guertin, the South offense is going good when quarterback Sean Holland is getting time in the pocket or able to find room to run. If he's not, like last week against Dover, look out.

Quarterfinals: Saturday, Nov. 5

• No. 4 Salem at No. 1 Bedford, 4 p.m.
• No. 3 Goffstown at No. 2 Merrimack, 1 p.m.
• No. 4 Nashua South at No. 1 Exeter, 1 p.m.
• No. 3 Bishop Guertin at No. 2 Nashua North, 1 p.m.

Preseason playoff prediction

East/West cluster: 1. Exeter; 2. Nashua North; 3. Portsmouth; 4. Winnacunnet.

North/South cluster: 1. Bedford; 2. Merrimack; 3. Goffstown; 4. Pinkerton.

Got three teams wrong this year. Instead, it's Bishop Guertin at No. 3 in the East/West and Nashua South at No. 4, while Salem is the fourth seed in the North/South.

Updated playoff prediction

Quarterfinal winners: Bedford, Merrimack, Exeter, Nashua North.

Most likely quarterfinal upset: Bishop Guertin over Nashua North.

Championship: Merrimack over Exeter.