Playoff Picture: Football (Nov. 2)

Here is what the standings look like, with the predicted playoff matchups and scenarios for Saturday’s remaining games.

Division I

In 2024, the top team in each conference, determined by football rating, will receive the top three seeds and get a first-round bye. The remaining 10 playoff spots will be determined by football rating and seeded 4-13.

Central Conference

Team (division record, rating, previous)

• *Londonderry (6-2, 13.0000, 3rd)
• *Pinkerton (6-2, 12.7500, 7th)
• *Salem (6-2, 12.5000, 6th)
• *Alvirne (6-3, 10.4444, 5th)
• *Concord (4-4, 8.2500, 9th)
• *Windham (3-5, 6.5000, 11th)
• x-Manchester Central (1-8, 1.7778)

East Conference

Team (division record, rating, previous)

• *Exeter (8-0, 16.2500, 2nd)
• *Manchester Memorial (6-2, 11.0000, 8th)
• *Winnacunnet (5-3, 8.0000, 12th)
• x-Dover (2-6, 3.2500)
• x-Timberlane (2-7, 2.6667)
• x-Spaulding (1-7, 1.7500)
• x-Portsmouth-Oyster River (1-7, 1.5000)

West Conference

Team (division record, rating, previous)

• *Bedford (8-0, 17.0000, 1st)
• *Nashua South (6-2, 12.0000, 4th)
• *Bishop Guertin (4-4, 7.5000, 10th)
• *Merrimack (3-5, 6.0000)
• x-Goffstown (3-6, 5.5556)
• x-Keene (3-5, 5.2500, 13th)
• x-Nashua North (2-6, 4.0000)

Remaining Games: None.

Here is what we expect the playoff pairings to look like when the brackets are released on Monday:

First-round byes

• No. 1 Bedford
• No. 2 Exeter
• No. 3 Londonderry

First-round matchups

• No. 9 Concord at No. 8 Alvirne
• No. 12 Windham at No. 5 Salem
• No. 13 Merrimack at No. 4 Pinkerton
• No. 10 Winnacunnet at No. 7 Manchester Memorial
• No. 11 Bishop Guertin at No. 6 Nashua South

Playoff Dates

• Preliminary Round: Saturday, Nov. 9, 1 p.m. at higher seed*
• Quarterfinals: Saturday, Nov. 16, 1 p.m. at higher seed*
• Semifinals: Saturday, Nov. 23, 1 p.m. at higher seed*
• Championship: Saturday, Nov. 30, 1 p.m. at TBD

* – can be changed to Friday night upon mutual agreement.

Division II

The top seed in each conference, determined by football rating, will receive the top two seeds. The remaining six playoff spots will be determined by football rating and seeded 3-8.

East Conference

Team (division record, rating, previous)

• *Plymouth (9-0, 18.0000, 1st)
• *Trinity (8-1, 16.0000, 3rd)
• *Bow (5-4, 9.5556, 5th)
• *Merrimack Valley (4-5, 6.8889)
• x-St. Thomas (4-5, 6.2222, 8th)
• x-Kingswood (3-6, 4.6667)
• x-Kennett (2-7, 3.7778)
• x-Pembroke (2-7, 2.8889)

West Conference

Team (division record, rating, previous)

• *Pelham (8-1, 15.5556, 2nd)
• *Souhegan (7-2, 12.6667, 4th)
• *John Stark (5-3, 10.0000, 6th)
• *Manchester West (6-3, 9.5556, 7th)
• x-Hanover (4-5, 5.7778)
• x-ConVal (3-5, 4.5000)
• x-Milford (1-8, 1.1111)
• x-Hollis Brookline (0-9, 0.0000)

Remaining Games

• ConVal at John Stark, Saturday, 1 p.m.

Scenarios

• If John Stark beats ConVal, the Generals will be the No. 5 seed, Bow will be No. 6 and Manchester West will be No. 7.
• If ConVal beats John Stark, West will be N0. 5, Bow will be No. 6 and the Generals will be No. 7.
• Merrimack Valley clinches the No. 8 seed because it has a better football rating than St. Thomas and Hanover.

Here is what we expect the playoff pairings to look like when the brackets are released on Monday:

Quarterfinals

• No. 8 Merrimack Valley at No. 1 Plymouth
• No. 5 John Stark at No. 4 Souhegan
• No. 7 Manchester West at No. 2 Pelham
• No. 6 Bow at No. 3 Trinity

Playoff Dates

• Quarterfinals: Saturday, Nov. 9, 1 p.m. at higher seed*
• Semifinals: Saturday, Nov. 16, 1 p.m. at higher seed*
• Championship: Saturday, Nov. 23, 1 p.m. at TBD

* – can be changed to Friday night upon mutual agreement.

Division III

The top seed in each conference, determined by football rating, will receive the top two seeds. The remaining six playoff spots will be determined by football rating and seeded 3-8.

East Conference

Team (division record, rating, last week)

• *Campbell (8-0, 17.5000, 1st)
• *Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough (6-1, 12.0000, 3rd)
• *Gilford (4-3, 8.8571, 5th)
• *Laconia (4-3, 8.5714, 7th)
• *Somersworth (3-4, 6.5714, 8th)
• x-Epping-Newmarket (3-5, 4.7500)
• x-Sanborn (1-7, 1.2500)

West Conference

Team (division record, rating, last week)

• *Monadnock (7-1, 13.0000, 2nd)
• *Newport (5-2, 10.0000, 4th)
• *Stevens (4-3, 8.0000, 6th)
• x-Kearsarge (2-6, 3.7500)
• x-Lebanon (2-6, 3.0000)
• x-Fall Mountain (0-8, 0.0000)

Remaining Games

• Laconia at Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough, Saturday, 12 p.m.
• Gilford at Newport, Saturday, 1 p.m.
• Somersworth at Stevens, Saturday, 7 p.m.

Scenarios

• Campbell has clinched the No. 1 seed.
• Monadnock has clinched the No. 2  seed.
• Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough will clinch the No. 3 seed with a win over Laconia or a loss and a Newport loss to Gilford.
• Newport can clinch the No. 3 seed with a win over Gilford and an ILM loss to Laconia. The Tigers would be No. 4 with a win and an ILM win. A loss to Gilford would drop Newport out of a home playoff game.
• Gilford can clinch the No. 4 seed with a win over Newport and an ILM win over Laconia. A loss means the Golden Eagles will be on the road in the first round.
• Laconia can clinch the No. 4 seed with a win over ILM and a Gilford win over Newport. Otherwise, the Sachems will be on the road in the first round.
• With a win over Somersworth, Stevens can finish no higher than No. 5. A loss would likely drop the Cardinals to No. 8.
• Somersworth has clinched a playoff spot and will be on the road in the first round.

Here is what we expect the playoff pairings to look like when the brackets are released on Monday:

Quarterfinals

• No. 8 Somersworth at No. 1 Campbell
• No. 5 Stevens at No. 4 Newport
• No. 7 Laconia at No. 2 Monadnock
• No. 6 Gilford at No. 3 Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough

Playoff Dates

• Quarterfinals: Saturday, Nov. 9, 1 p.m. at higher seed*
• Semifinals: Saturday, Nov. 16, 1 p.m. at higher seed*
• Championship: Saturday, Nov. 23, 1 p.m. at TBD

* – can be changed to Friday night upon mutual agreement.

Division IV

The top four teams in the division, determined by football rating, will make the playoffs and be seeded 1-4.

Team (record, rating, last week)

• *Raymond (6-0, 14.6667, 1st)
• *Mascoma Valley (5-1, 12.0000, 2nd)
• *Hillsboro-Deering (4-2, 8.6667, 3rd)
• *Bishop Brady (3-3, 6.6667)
• Franklin (3-3, 6.0000, 4th)
• x-Farmington-Nute (2-4, 4.3333)
• x-Winnisquam (1-5, 2.3333)
• x-Newfound (0-6, 0.0000)

Remaining Games

• Raymond at Hillsboro-Deering, Saturday, 1 p.m.
• Mascoma Valley at Farmington-Nute, Saturday, 2 p.m.
• Winnisquam at Newfound, Saturday, 2 p.m.
• Franklin at Bishop Brady, Saturday, 7 p.m.

Scenarios

• Raymond has clinched the No. 1 seed.
• Mascoma Valley clinches the No. 2 seed with a win over Farmington-Nute or a loss and a loss by Hillsboro-Deering, or a loss and a win by Bishop Brady.
• Hillsboro-Deering has clinched a playoff spot. The Hillcats could be the No. 2 seed with a win over Raymond, a loss by Mascoma Valley and a win by Franklin. H-D would clinch the No.  3 seed with a win and a Mascoma Valley win. A loss could drop the Hillcats to No. 4.
• Bishop Brady clinches a playoff spot with a win over Franklin. A win and a Hillsboro-Deering loss would likely give the Giants the No. 3 seed.
• Franklin clinches a playoff spot with a win over Bishop Brady. A win and a Hillsboro-Deering loss would likely give the Golden Tornadoes the No. 3 seed.

Here is what we expect the playoff pairings to look like when the brackets are released on Monday:

Semifinals

• No. 4 Hillsboro-Deering at No. 1 Raymond
• No. 3 Bishop Brady at No. 2 Mascoma Valley

Playoff Dates

• Semifinals: Saturday, Nov. 9, 1 p.m. at higher seed*
• Championship: Saturday, Nov. 16, 1 p.m. at TBD

* – can be changed to Friday night upon mutual agreement.