Division I playoff scenarios
Posted by: MARC THALER, UnionLeader.com
Week 10 marks the conclusion of the Division I regular season. Here’s a look at the possible playoff scenarios.
What we know: Salem (7-0 Div. I), Nashua North (6-1) and Pinkerton Academy of Derry (5-2) are playoff-bound. The unbeaten Blue Devils (9-0 overall) locked up the No. 1 postseason seed with their 42-0 Friday win over Manchester West.
Londonderry (5-3) or Manchester Central (5-2) will clinch the No. 4 seed this Friday, Nov. 6.
North and Pinkerton meet this Saturday, Nov. 7, in Derry. Playoff implications here, too.
Did you know?: Nashua South was officially eliminated from playoff contention with Friday’s 31-29 loss at Londonderry.
As I wrote in the New Hampshire Sunday News today (Sunday, Nov. 1), the last defending Division I champ that didn’t qualify for the playoffs the following year was Concord. The Crimson Tide won the title in 2000, but didn’t return to the postseason in 2001.
OK, let’s start with this year’s fight for the No. 4 seed.
You can bet the Londonderry Lancers, whose regular season concluded in Week 9, will make the trip Friday night to Grant Field. That’s where Salem hosts Central.
If Central wins, the Little Green clinch the playoff berth.
If Salem wins, Londonderry scores the spot. Both Central and Londonderry would finish with 5-3 Division I records in this scenario. Londonderry owns the head-to-head tiebreaker courtesy of its 31-20 Week 6 win.
So …
– If Central and North win, the seeds look like this:
1. Salem (7-1) *
2. Nashua North (7-1)
3. Central (6-2)
4. Pinkerton (5-3)* Though Salem and North have the same record in this scenario, the Blue Devils own the head-to-head tiebreaker: a 54-33 Week 7 win.
– If Central loses and North wins, the seeds look like this:
1. Salem (8-0)
2. Nashua North (7-1)
3. Pinkerton (5-3) *
4. Londonderry (5-3) *** Pinkerton, Londonderry and Central all finish 5-3 in this scenario. All teams would be 1-1 in head-to-head play (first tiebreaker). Pinkerton earns the No. 3 seed by having the best road record win percentage (second tiebreaker).
Pinkerton is 2-2 on the road (.500). Londonderry is 1-3 (.250). Central would be 1-3 (.250).
** Londonderry earns the No. 4 seed by beating Central, 31-20, in Week 6.
– If Central loses and Pinkerton wins, the seeds look like this:
1. Salem (8-0)
2. Pinkerton (6-2) *
3. Nashua North (6-2)
4. Londonderry (5-3)* Though Pinkerton and North have the same record in this scenario, the Astros own the head-to-head tiebreaker: a win this Saturday.
– If Central and Pinkerton win, the seeds look like this:
1. Salem (7-1)
2. Nashua North (6-2) *
3. Central (6-2) **
4. Pinkerton (6-2)* North, Central and Pinkerton all finish 6-2 in this scenario. All teams would be 1-1 in head-to-head play (first tiebreaker). North earns the No. 2 seed by having the best road record win percentage (second tiebreaker).
North would be 3-1 on the road (.750). Pinkerton is 2-2 (.500). Central would be 2-2 (.500).
** Central earns the No. 3 seed by beating Pinkerton, 21-10, in Week 9.
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