Fall Sports

Plenty of football games this weekend that will affect the postseason

Joe Marchilena

— 3 min read
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Malik Langa and Nashua South need a win over Bishop Guertin to get into the postseason.
Malik Langa and Nashua South need a win over Bishop Guertin to get into the postseason.

A lot has already been determined for the start of the postseason next week, but there are still several things that need to be sorted out. Here's a look at games that will, or could, have playoff implications.

Division I

  • Concord (6-2) at Exeter (6-2), Friday: The Blue Hawks have everything wrapped up and will host the East Conference championship game next week. The Crimson Tide need a win in this game to guarantee a date with Bedford next week in the North Conference championship game. However, a loss doesn't mean Concord is out.
  • Nashua South (4-4) at Bishop Guertin (3-5), Friday: As hard as it is to believe, the winner of this game will be in the West Conference championship, and could potentially host it with a 4-5 record.
  • Timberlane (3-5) at Alvirne (4-4), Friday: A win gives Alvirne home field for the West Conference championship. A loss means the Broncos would play at Stellos Stadium next week against the winner of the previous game.
  • Londonderry (7-1) at Salem (7-1), Friday: The playoffs have already started for these two teams. The winner moves on to play Pinkerton in the South Conference championship. The loser goes home with a 7-2 record.
  • Manchester Memorial (5-3) at Goffstown (4-4), Saturday: The Crusaders need a win and need some help from Exeter, as their only way into the North Conference game is if Memorial and Concord both finish 6-3.
  • Bedford at Manchester Central/Merrimack at Pinkerton: Both Bedford and Pinkerton have clinched home field for the conference championships, and the semifinals if they advance, but a misstep by either team would mean the other gets the No. 1 overall seed.

Already in: Bedford, Pinkerton, Portsmouth, Exeter, Alvirne.

Division II

  • Trinity (5-2) at St. Thomas (6-1), Saturday: This game was moved to Exeter High School for a 3 p.m. kickoff, and it's real simple for the Pioneers - win and you're in the South Conference championship game, lose and leave it to the football rating.
  • Milford (4-3) at Manchester West (1-6), Friday: Milford needs a win and a Trinity loss, and wins by a combination of Lebanon, John Stark and Plymouth to get into the South Conference championship game.
  • Souhegan (4-3) at Pelham (2-5), Friday: Just like Milford, Souhegan needs a win and a Trinity loss, and wins by a combination of Sanborn, ConVal, Monadnock and Plymouth to get into the South Conference championship game.
  • Kearsarge (4-3) at Laconia (4-3), Friday: The winner plays Kennett in the North Conference championship game, the loser goes home for the season.
  • Lebanon (4-3) at ConVal (1-6), Friday: A win by Lebanon helps Milford's cause, while a win by ConVal would help Souhegan.
  • John Stark (2-5) at Sanborn (4-3), Saturday: A victory by Sanborn would give the Indians home field against Hollis Brookline, and it would help Souhegan's cause. A win by John Stark helps Milford.
  • Hanover (1-6) at Plymouth (3-4), Saturday: A victory by Hanover gives Trinity help, in case it falls to St. Thomas.
  • Monadnock (2-5) at Windham (7-0), Saturday: An upset by Monadnock would help Souhegan's cause.

Already in: Windham, St. Thomas, Merrimack Valley, Kennett, Hollis Brookline, Sanborn.

Division III

  • Somersworth (6-1)  at Bow (7-0), Saturday: The winner gets the top seed in the South Conference, while the loser is the No. 2 seed and will host Campbell in the quarterfinals.
  • Winnisquam (4-3) at Bishop Brady (4-3), Friday: The winner gets the fourth and final playoff spot in the South Conference while the loser is done.
  • Mascoma Valley (3-4) at Fall Mountain (1-6), Friday: A win by Mascoma, and a loss by Franklin, gives it the final playoff spot in the North Conference.
  • Inter-Lakes-Moultonborough (4-3) at Franklin (3-4), Saturday: A win by Franklin would give it the No. 3 seed, while ILM would drop to fourth. A win by ILM makes it the third seed and would eliminate Franklin regardless of what Mascoma does.
  • Newport (6-1) at Newfound (0-7), Saturday: A Newport win gives it the top seed in the North Conference.
  • Gilford (6-1) at Stevens (2-5), Saturday: If Newport falls, Gilford could clinch the top seed in the North with a win.

Already in: Bow, Somersworth, Campbell, Newport, Gilford, Inter-Lakes-Moultonborough.

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