Midseason report: Division II football

The new Division II appeared to be a three-team race before the season started, and while some might argue there are four or five teams who might have a legitimate shot at the title, there appears to once again be one team everyone is trying to beat.

Plymouth (6-0) sits atop the standings in the North Conference, and arguably the whole division, in what will be coach Chuck Lenahan’s final season leading the Bobcats. The legendary coach has won 19 titles, including an undefeated season in Division IV last year, and the rumor was the 2013 team might be his best ever.

The Bobcats certainly look like it now, with the No. 1 defense in the division (10.2 points per game) while the offense ranks second, trailing only Portsmouth in scoring average (43.8-42.2). Plymouth has already beaten contenders Windham and Trinity, and the Bobcats will take on another Saturday when Portsmouth comes to town.

Where does everyone else fall? Find out below, where each of the 20 teams in the division are ranked, based on record, strength of schedule (SOS), points scored per game (PS) and points allowed per game (PA). The * denotes the current division leaders.

Wait until next year

20. Con-Val (0-6; SOS: T10; PS: 20; PA: 20).

19. John Stark (1-5; SOS: 3; PS: 18; PA: 19).

18. Kingswood (1-5; SOS: T6; PS: 12; PA: 17).

17. Hanover (1-5; SOS: T16; PS: 17; PA: 11).

16. Kearsarge (2-4; SOS: T13; PS: 19; PA: 12).

A note about each team: Con-Val has scored 14 points this season, with all of them coming in a Week 2 loss to Kingswood. That win by Kingswood was its first since 2010. John Stark has good numbers, the problem this year for the Generals is most of them are sophomores and freshmen. Hanover’s only win was a comeback against Souhegan, and the Marauders were forced to forfeit a game earlier this year. Who benefited from the forfeit? Keasarge, a team that was in the Division V playoffs last year, but who’s only other win was a 14-0 victory over Con-Val.

Have a chance

15. Pembroke (2-4; SOS: T13; PS: 11; PA: 15).

14. Lebanon (2-4; SOS: T4; PS: 15; PA: T13).

13. Laconia (2-4; SOS: T4; PS: 13; PA: 18).

Pembroke had to feel good about its season after opening with a win over Laconia, but then, the Spartans lost four in a row, including a 14-13 loss to John Stark, before beating Kingswood last week. Losses to St. Thomas and Merrimack Valley also mean Pembroke could win out and not make the postseason in the East Conference. Lebanon and Laconia will play on Friday in Laconia. Both teams have a few things in common: a win over Hanover and a blowout loss to Plymouth. The remaining schedule for the North Conference teams is favorable, and a win Friday by Laconia would keep its slim playoff hopes alive.

Better than record

12. Hollis Brookline (1-5; SOS: T1; PS: 16; PA: 8).

11. Souhegan (1-5; SOS: T1; PS: 10; PA: 16).

These programs have so much more in common aside from their records and the fact they’ve played the toughest schedule in the division. Both Souhegan coach Mike Lochman and HB coach Rich Bergskaug were assistants under former HB coach Milt Robinson last year. Lochman took the HB offense with him to Souhegan, replacing the spread the Sabers had run under former coach Mike Beliveau. Meanwhile, Bergskaug scrapped the Cavaliers’ offense for the spread. It took a while for HB to get things going, and some of their losses were due to the Cavs’ mistakes, and after winning last week, things could turn around. Souhegan could easily be 3-3, or 4-2 with a chance at the playoffs. The Sabers lost two games in the final minute, and had a lead on Trinity for most of the first half last week. Souhegan also has one of the best running backs in the division in Drew Prescott.

Playoff bound

10. Sanborn (3-3; SOS: T10; PS: 9; PA: 9).

9. Kennett (3-3; SOS: T6; PS: 14; PA: T13).

Sanborn has been a pleasant surprise, thanks to its senior leadership on the offensive line and the play of running backs Zack Matthews and Mike Rich. The Indians have played teams like Milford, Monadnock and Merrimack Valley tough, while winning the games they should. A win over Keasarge on Saturday would wrapup a playoff spot for Sanborn in the West Conference. Kennett, which hasn’t made a playoff appearance since 2009, appears to be the best of the “other” four teams that share the North Conference with Plymouth. The Golden Eagles deserve credit for scheduling two tougher out-of-conference opponents in Windham and St. Thomas.

Realignment casualties

8. Milford (4-2; SOS: T16; PS: 4; PA: 4).

7. Merrimack Valley (5-1; SOS: T18; PS: 7; PA: 3).

The major flaw in the realignment: Milford could finish the year 7-2 and end  up missing the postseason, while Kennett or Sanborn could finished with three or four losses and get in, because of their respective conferences. After losses to Trinity and Windham, two South Conference foes, the Spartans would have needed a lot of help to get in, and that was before quarterback Harrison Urda was lost for the season with a dislocated ankle and broken fibula. Speaking of quarterbacks, Merrimack Valley has a talented one in junior Ivan Niyamugabo, who leads Division II in passing yards. But the Pride have played one game against a team with a winning record – a loss to Portsmouth – and still have games against St. Thomas and Plymouth.

Real or not real?

6. St. Thomas (5-1; SOS: T18; PS: T5; PA: 2).

5. Monadnock* (6-0; SOS: 20; PS: 3; PA: 5).

Have there ever been more questions about two teams who are a combined 11-1? Take out St. Thomas’ loss to Portsmouth from last week, and the Saints and Huskies have beaten teams with a combined 18-48. The question is, are these guys for real? We found out a little bit with St. Thomas last week, and there will be more when the Saints play Trinity in the final game of the regular season. Monadnock faces a team with a winning record for the first time on Friday, when it heads to Milford, but after that, the Huskies will face Kearsarge and Pembroke before what will likely be a home game in the West Conference championship.

Contenders

4. Windham (5-1; SOS: 15; PS: 8; PA: T6).

3. Trinity* (5-1; SOS: T6; PS: T5; PA: T6).

2. Portsmouth* (5-1; SOS: 9; PS: 1; PA: 10).

Windham and Trinity have something in common – their one loss was a waxing at the hands of Plymouth. The two teams will battle for the South Conference title on Oct. 26 at Windham, with the loser taking the second spot, thanks to both owning a head-to-head win over Milford. While Trinity looked like a lock to take the top spot early in the season, illness has hit the Pioneers hard. No one has been immune, including quarterback Carmen Giampertuzzi, who hasn’t played the last two weeks. Meanwhile, Portsmouth, which lost to Trinity in Week 1, has won five in a row, including last week’s big win over St. Thomas. With wins over the Saints and Merrimack Valley, who still have to play head-to-head, Portsmouth would have to have something drastic happen to not win the East Conference.

Favorite

1. Plymouth* (6-0; SOS: T10; PS: 2; PA: 1).

The Bobcats seem to be on their way to sending legendary coach Chuck Lenahan out with his 20th championship. Plymouth has one of the top rushing attacks, led by John Thomas and Jared Kuehl, who along with Kyle Reisert, also give the Bobcats the best defense in the division. Averaging 10.2 points allowed per game, Plymouth trails just Bedford, Pelham, Bow and Keene in defense. Plymouth already has double-digit victories over Windham and Trinity. The Bobcats could make it 3 for 3 against Portsmouth on Saturday. Until someone proves otherwise, the Bobcats are the team to beat.