Today, we examine the top three divisions as we head into the busiest weekend of the playoffs.

 We have a separate preview for Saturday’s Division IV championship game, a scouting report (using blind quotes from opposing coaches) of the match-up between undefeated Raymond and second-seeded Mascoma.

 We'll have coverage of three games this weekend;

 Pete Tarrier and Patrick Cogan will be in Pelham tomorrow night when the Pythons face Trinity, the only team that beat them this season.

 Jennifer Chick-Ruth and I will be in Plymouth on Saturday afternoon when the undefeated Bobcats square off with the Souhegan Sabers in the semifinals for the second consecutive year.

 Finally Brandon Bojarsky and Ben Conant will be in Laconia for the Division IV championship when Raymond takes on Mascoma.

 Our column is brought to you by our longtime friends at Kane Insurance Company!

 

 Division I

 Playoff bracket and post-season leaders

 Final Standings and Statistical Leaders

 

 (8) Alvirne at (1) Bedford

 The two teams did not meet in the regular season.

 What to watch for and the biggest question going into the game: Can the Broncos defense get Bedford's high-powered offense (35.1 ppg.) off the field?

 We know the Jack Maye/Brody Helton/Bennett Matthews-led offense will score, and I'm confident the Alvirne offense (led by Mike Landmesser, Charlie Crawford, and Ryan Rocheleau) will also. The aspect of this game is whether Bedford keeps moving the chains and simultaneously wears the Bronco's two-way players down.

 My Pick: The champs get a challenge but move on.

 

 (12) Windham at (4) Pinkerton Academy

 Box Score of the regular season meeting

 What to watch for and the biggest question going into the game: Can Windham score enough points to put a scare into the Astros or, better, pull off their second shocker in as many weeks?

 The Jaguars have never featured a high-powered offense, but they have only scored 29 points in three games since playmaker Jack Koutrobis went down with a season-ending injury. That puts a lot of pressure on a defense led by Liam Shambo, Bobby Hamwey, and Jason Scharff.

 My Pick: The Astros can win the whole thing, and they get started this weekend.
 

 (6) Nashua South at (3) Londonderry

 The two teams did not meet in the regular season.

 What to watch for and the biggest question going into the game: This game will be a lot of fun because both teams have very good offenses (edge to Nashua South) and solid, if flawed, defenses (edge to Londonderry). Translation: expect a lot of points. 

 Londonderry is only a few exits down from Goffstown so expect that head coach Jimmy Lauzon has poured over the film of the Grizzlies' 14-6 win over the Purple Panthers.

 Scott Knight’s team is led by dynamic quarterback Cody Jackson and a rushing attack that rolled up 318 yards on Bishop Guertin last weekend.

 Do the Lancers have the depth to win despite several injuries to key starters?
 

 My Pick: I’ll go with South in a close game/mild upset.

 

 (7) Manchester Memorial at (2) Exeter

 Box Score of the regular season meeting
 

 What to watch for and the biggest question going into the game: When you interview teams as often as we do, you talk to players about the difference between thinking you can beat a team and knowing you can.

 The first meeting showed Rob Sturgis’s Crusaders that they could beat the Exeter Blue Hawks. The Crusaders have the talent and size up front to cause problems (Exeter rushed for 160 yards in the first meeting but needed 34 carries to do it) for the two-seed.

 Memorial will need to score at least 20 points to pull the upset. Can quarterback Collin Beaulieu and a talented group of rushers get to that number?

 Exeter has an extra week of rest and a Hall of Fame coach in Bill Ball, who has poured over the film, making them the favorite to advance to the semifinals.

 My Pick: I’m going with Exeter to keep it rolling.

 

Division II

Playoff Bracket

Final Standings and Statistical Leaders

 

(4) Souhegan at (1) Plymouth

What to watch for and the biggest question going into the game: The Sabers team that lost to Plymouth 28-21 in overtime was undefeated coming into that game and full of the confidence that comes with a dominant 6-0 start. 

 The team that travels up 93 North on Saturday morning to face the undefeated Bobcats has lost twice on their home field, the second being a 20-point loss to defending champion Pelham.

 So, wipe out the X's and O's. Robin Bowkett and Chris Sanborn lead two excellent coaching staffs.

 Forget the talent gap because there isn’t one; and if there is, it is slight. Both teams feature all-state players like Luis Toledo, Emmit Nossaman, Ben Valenti and Mike Fiengo.

 Does Souhegan believe they can go up north, win the game, and earn a chance to be the last team standing next weekend? 

 My Pick: I absolutely believe they can, but I’m still going with Plymouth on their home field.

 

 (3) Trinity at (2) Pelham

 Box score of the first meeting

 What to watch for and the biggest question going into the game: The Pioneers may have done the Pythons a favor in beating them 41-28 back on October 18th; the pressure of the winning streak is gone.

 Pelham could have been staggered after the loss, but they have played their best football of the season since behind an offense that has scored 133 points in three games.

 Anthony DiGiantommaso and quarterback Oliver Service combined for 264 yards and five touchdowns on the ground in the first meeting.

 Pelham's job tomorrow night is to force Trinity to play from behind and plug those holes.

 My Pick: This should be a one-score game; I’ll go with Pelham on their home field.

 

 Division III

 Playoff Bracket

 Final Standings and Statistical Leaders

 

 (4) Gilford at (1) Campbell

 Box Score from the first meeting

 What to watch for and the biggest question going into the game: Cougars running back Scott Hershberger, who got my vote for NH Gatorade Player of the Year, is 16 yards away from breaking the state's all-time rushing record. Think about that for a moment.

 The reigning and soon-to-be repeat Division III Player of the Year ran for 18.8 yards a carry in the first meeting with the Golden Eagles, so any analysis begins there. 

 A Gilford defense led by Cooper Perkins (the #11 Pete Tarrier raved about on Sunday's podcast), Ashton Taylor, Emmett Hughes, and Tim Maccione has to hold Campbell in the twenties to have any chance for the upset. That means keeping the Hershberger brothers relatively in check.

 Campbell wins by controlling the clock, wearing you down until Scott or Nick Hershberger bumps one outside the tackles and takes it to the house.

 Gilford's offense has improved, as Noah Harder (731 yards rushing), Mark Uicker (973 passing), and Taylor (453 yards receiving) have all had all-state seasons. They'll need to control the clock and keep the Cougar's offense off the field if they are going to pull a genuine shocker.

 My Pick:  The Cougars remain undefeated.

 

(3) Inter-Lakes Moultonborough at (2) Monadnock

The two teams did not meet in the regular season.

 What to watch for and the biggest question going into the game: We’ve been talking about this possible semifinal match-up for over a month, and when they take the field this weekend, it will be a battle of completely contrasting styles.

 Monadnock rushed for the second-most yards in the division (I’ll let you guess who was #1), while the Lakers passed for more yards than any team and did it by nearly 1,000 yards.

 Garrett Hayward, O’Brien Murray, Brogan Donnelly, Deven Brown, and the Lakers' defense will have to put Monadnock in third and long situations and not give up the big play. 

 Weather shouldn’t be a factor, so expect Alec Adorno (1,857 passing yards) to put the ball up at least thirty times.

 Monadnock hasn't faced a team that has attempted more than fifteen passes in a game all season, so it will be an adjustment for a secondary that likes to play close to the line of scrimmage.

 My Pick:  I’m going with the Lakers to pick up a big road win.