Playoff scenarios for this weekend's Division I football games

The playoffs start this Friday in Division I and it's a scenario that's taken place before.

Manchester Central (5-3) heads to Bedford (5-3) for a 7 p.m. kickoff in a game that will determine the final playoff spot in the division.

If it sounds like these teams have been here before, that's because they have. In 2013, in the first season of the NHIAA's three-division format, Bedford got off to a 5-0 start and split its next two games. After an 0-2 start, Central won six in a row and both teams entered the regular-season finale at Bedford with the winner moving on to the playoffs.

Central won that game 20-16 to reach the postseason, the last time the Little Green have been in the D1 tournament. The winner of Friday's game will get in as the fourth seed in the North/East Cluster and will play at Winnacunnet in the quarterfinals.

Here’s a look at what is at stake this week for the teams that are in contention for the postseason.

South/West Cluster

Salem (8-0)

• Plays at Londonderry (6-2) on Oct. 27.
• Current position: First place in South Conference and No. 1 seed in cluster.
• Wins: Nashua South, Keene, Pinkerton, Timberlane, Alvirne, Bishop Guertin, Merrimack, Nashua North.
• The Blue Devils have clinched the South Conference title and the top seed in the cluster, and will host a quarterfinal game against Londonderry.

Nashua South (6-2)

• Plays at Bishop Guertin (1-7) on Oct. 27.
• Current position: First place in West Conference and No. 2 seed in cluster.
• Wins: Merrimack, Nashua North, Timberlane, Alvirne, Keene, Londonderry.
• South clinched the West Conference title and the No. 2 seed, and will host Pinkerton in the quarterfinals.

Pinkerton (7-1)

• Plays at Merrimack (4-4) on Oct. 27.
• Current position: Second place in South Conference and No. 3 seed in cluster.
• Wins: Alvirne, Nashua South, Londonderry, Bishop Guertin, Nashua North, Timberlane, Keene.
• The Astros have clinched a playoff spot and will be the No. 3 seed in the cluster. They'll play Nashua South on the road in the quarterfinals.

Londonderry (6-2)

• Hosts Salem (8-0) on Oct. 27.
• Current position: Third place in South Conference and No. 4 seed in cluster.
• Wins: Bishop Guertin, Timberlane, Nashua North, Keene, Merrimack, Alvirne.
• The Lancers have clinched a playoff spot, will be the No. 4 seed and play at Salem in the quarterfinals.

Eliminated: Nashua North (4-4), Merrimack (4-4), Timberlane (2-6), Bishop Guertin (1-7), Alvirne (1-7), Keene (0-8).

North/East Cluster

Winnacunnet (8-0)

• Plays at Spaulding (1-7) on Oct. 27.
• Current position: First place in the East Conference and No. 1 seed in the cluster.
• Wins: Dover, Concord, Bedford, Exeter, Goffstown, Manchester Memorial, Portsmouth, Manchester Central.
• Winnacunnet has clinched the East Conference title and the No. 1 seed in the cluster. The Warriors will host either Manchester Central or Bedford in the quarterfinals.

Goffstown (7-1)

• Plays at Manchester Memorial (0-8) on Oct. 27.
• Current position: First place in the North Conference and No. 2 seed in the cluster.
• Wins: Concord, Dover, Exeter, Portsmouth, Bedford, Manchester Central, Spaulding.
• The Grizzlies have clinched the North Conference title and will be the No. 2 seed in the playoffs, hosting Exeter in the quarterfinals.

Exeter (6-2)

• Plays at Concord (2-5) on Oct. 27.
• Current position: Second place in the East Conference and No. 3 seed in the cluster.
• Wins: Manchester Central, Spaulding, Bedford, Portsmouth, Dover, Manchester Memorial.
• Exeter will be the No. 3 seed in the cluster and will play Goffstown in the quarterfinals.

Manchester Central (5-3)

• Plays at Bedford (5-3) on Oct. 27.
• Current position: Second place in the North Conference and No. 4 seed in the cluster.
• Wins: Manchester Memorial, Spaulding, Concord, Portsmouth, Dover.
• The Little Green right now hold the tiebreaker over Bedford thanks to a better rating in road games against division opponents. Manchester Central will get into the playoffs with a win over Bedford.

Bedford (5-3)

• Hosts Manchester Central (5-3) on Oct. 27.
• Current position: Third place in the North Conference and outside of the playoffs.
• Wins: Manchester Memorial, Portsmouth, Spaulding, Concord, Dover.
• The Bulldogs will get into the playoffs with a win over Manchester Central.

Eliminated: Dover (3-5), Portsmouth (3-5), Concord (2-6), Spaulding (1-7), Manchester Memorial (0-8).