Division II

Preview capsules for Week 1 of the Division II football season

Here’s a quick look at each Week 1 game in Division II football action.

When: Friday, 7 p.m. at Milford.
Last Game: ConVal lost to Windham 62-45; Milford lost to Plymouth, 14-12.
Last Meeting: Milford won 41-35 on Sept. 2, 2016.
FYI: Both teams would have made the playoffs with a win in their regular-season finales last season … Milford had a 27-7 lead at halftime last year before ConVal stormed back in the second half … the Spartans have won five in a row in the series, with the Cougars’ last win coming on Sept. 11, 2009.

When: Friday, 7 p.m. at Hanover.
Last Game: Laconia beat Gilford-Belmont, 46-6; Hanover lost to Bow in the semifinals, 38-24.
Last Meeting: Hanover won 34-19 on Sept. 2, 2016.
FYI: The win was part of an 8-0 start for Hanover last season … the Marauders won eight games total from 2012-15 … Laconia has fewer than 40 players on its roster this year, but many of those are experienced players returning.

When: Friday, 7 p.m. at Lebanon.
Last Game: Merrimack Valley beat Pembroke 38-0; Lebanon lost to Hanover in the quarterfinals, 13-10.
Last Meeting: Lebanon won 34-20 on Sept. 2, 2016.
FYI: After losing its first five games last year, Merrimack Valley finished the season by winning three of its final four … the Pride look to have a run-heavy offense out of the spread formation … Lebanon also got hot down the stretch last season, winning four of five, including wins over Plymouth and Bow.

When: Friday, 7 p.m. at Pelham.
Last Game: Gilford-Belmont lost to Laconia 46-6; Pelham beat Manchester West, 35-0.
Last Meeting: Pelham won 19-12 on Sept. 24, 2016.
FYI: Last year’s meeting was the first between the two teams since 2007 … the teams played twice that year, with Pelham winning 13-12 in the regular season, and 21-7 in the Division V title game … this game was originally scheduled for Sept. 22, but was moved after Trinity dropped its varsity program in August.

When: Saturday, 2 p.m. at Weare
Last Game: Souhegan lost to Hollis Brookline, 55-21; John Stark lost to Bow in the quarterfinals, 27-21.
Last Meeting: John Stark won 35-14 on Sept. 3, 2016.
FYI: The win for the Generals in 2016 was the first over Souhegan since 2006 … John Stark also made its first playoff appearance last season … John Stark’s Parker McQuarrie takes over at quarterback for his brother, Drew, who is now at Boston College … Souhegan had a young team last season, but enter this year with 18 seniors on the roster.

When: Saturday, 1:30 p.m. at Windham.
Last Game: Hollis Brookline lost to Windham in the quarterfinals, 52-7; Windham lost to Plymouth in the semifinals, 20-18.
Last Meeting: Windham won 52-7 on Nov. 5, 2016.
FYI: This is the fourth year in a row these two teams have opened the season against each other … Windham won the previous three by an average of 36 points …

When: Saturday, 1:30 p.m., at Kingston.
Last Game: St. Thomas lost to Plymouth in the quarterfinals, 28-6; Sanborn beat Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton, 34-21.
Last Meeting: St. Thomas won 35-6 on Sept. 3, 2016.
FYI: This will be the first game as St. Thomas head coach Ryan Brown, who is also the school’s athletic director … Shawn DeKorne returns at quarterback for the Saints after missing part of last season with injuries … the Indians also have their quarterback returning, with Brian McHugh leading the way.

When: Saturday, 1:30 p.m. at Pembroke.
Last Game: Bow lost to Plymouth in the final, 27-24; Pembroke lost to Merrimack Valley, 38-0.
Last Meeting: Bow won 42-0 on Sept. 3, 2016.
FYI: Bow reached the title game in its first season in Division II … the Falcons return a lot of experience from last season, including quarterback Matt Harkins … Pembroke has won four games since 2014.

When: Saturday, 2 p.m. at Plymouth
Last Game: Kingswood lost to Kennett 42-0; Plymouth beat Bow in the final, 27-24.
Last Meeting: Plymouth won 43-6 on Sept. 2, 2016.
FYI: Plymouth won its first title last year since 2013, and its 24th overall … Plymouth’s Garrett Macomber will look to be the state’s first back-to-back Gatorade Player of the Year since Salem’s Max Jacques in 2009-10 … Kingswood will look to junior running back/linebacker Cameron Mann to lead the way this season.

When: Saturday, 1 p.m. at Hopkinton
Last Game: Manchester West lost to Pelham 25-0; HD/Hopkinton lost to Sanborn 34-21.
Last Meeting: HD/Hopkinton won 34-0 on Sept 2, 2016.
FYI: West is coming off a win over Trinity in the Queen City Jamboree … the Blue Kings have lost 20 games in a row and 34 of 35 … HD/Hopkinton started 2-2 in its first varsity season in 2016, but finished with five straight losses.

Bye: Kennett.