The theme for the Windham Jaguars all season long has been ‘Finish the mission’. That’s because last November the 4th seeded Plymouth Bobcats came into Windham with some confidence and a whole lot of pedigree and pulled off the shocker of the Division II playoffs (Windham/Plymouth semifinal highlights)

 One year later those same two teams sit on top of either side of the Division II bracket, meaning if there is going to be a rematch, it will come on a neutral field in Durham.

 The road to Durham is treacherous; when a Bow team that was minutes away from winning the title a year ago is your 8 seed that tells you how many quality teams are in this division. Souhegan is the lower seed no one wanted to face, Hanover is the least talked about undefeated team in the state, John Stark has the line and the weapons to get to Durham…it goes on from team to team.

 The most wide open race in the state has been condensed to seven games over three weeks. Today we look at the Division II playoffs.

 Jennifer Chick-Ruth & I will be in Plymouth Saturday afternoon when the defending champs take on Souhegan. We’ll bring you all the highlights and a post-game interview with the winning team.

 

(8) Bow at (1) Windham

Bow team page

Windham team page

 A Bow defense that has four shutouts on its 2017 resume faces a big test on Saturday. Bill Raycraft’s Windham Jaguars averaged 40.5 ppg. on route to an undefeated regular season and they did it without a true superstar, this is truly an offense by committee.

 That puts the emphasis on the performance of Bow’s Front 8 of Nolan Filteau DT, Justin Porath DE, Matt Nicholls DE, Ben Kimball LB, Jack Corriveau LB, Jack Tellifon LB, Tanner Cammettt LB & Andrew Berube DT on Saturday.

 Jaguars QB Cody Potter threw for 580 yards on the season with 9 TD passes coming against only 2 INTs. Royce Belsky (461 YDs rushing) & Cody Stevens are your between the tackle runners while Tommy Emrick (463), Jake Aleksa  (405) and Seth Maffeo are your burners on misdirection. Thomas Splagounias wreaks havoc on the defensive line and also is one of the best tight ends in Division II.

 On Saturday Bow is going to have win a lot of battles at the line of scrimmage. The linebackers will have to be disciplined in knowing where the football is (Potter is terrific handling the ball on misdirection) and a Falcons offense led by Matt Harkins (685 YDs, 9 TDs and 3 INTs) and Jack Corriveau (604 yards and 10 TDS on the ground) is going to have to get into 20’s to win this game.

 

(5) Hollis-Brookline at (4) Hanover

Hanover team page

Hollis-Brookline team page

 The opinion of more than a few coaches around the division is that the South conference was/is a lot better than the North. It should probably be noted that the same opinion was prevalent a year ago and two North teams (Bow/Plymouth) ended up meeting for the title.

 We’ll get a good look at a true North vs South match-up in this one. Hanover is just very solid all over the field and very well coached by Sam Cavallaro. Hollis-Brookline is going to test the Marauders by throwing the football 30 times and you have to believe they are excited to get their wide receivers out on that turf field up north.

 Hanover will run the football out of the Wing-T and try to confuse & wear down the Cavaliers defense. Caleb Putnam rushed for 682 yards and 11 touchdowns on the season and is joined in the backfield by quarterback Alex Mosenthal & Griffin Young (325 YDs rushing).

 Sander Wimmer threw for over 2,000 yards after replacing the injured Joey Delaney at QB in the season opener. He has a good change of pace back in Brandon Iodice (482 YDs rushing & 199 receiving) and terrific wideouts led by player of the year candidate Matt Simco (883 yards receiving and a whopping 14 TDs) & Jeff Arnold (424).

 Also keep an eye out for Quinten Wimmer who had 7 receptions for 85 yards and a score last weekend against Souhegan.

 

(7) Souhegan at (2) Plymouth

Plymouth team page

 The defending champs have hardly been tested during an 8-0 regular season (the 42-26 win over Bow was running time with reserves in for Plymouth by the 3rd quarter) and now we’ll see if that affects them in the post-season.

 This is an offense that can beat you running the football (always the case with the Bobcats) and passing the football (rarely the case with the Bobcats).

 Ben Olmstead threw for 737 yards and 12 TDs this season and in Nolan Farina, Jordan Docen, Wes Lambert & Owen Brickley there are weapons all over the open field to contend with. All-state running back Garrett Macomber rumbled for 210 yards and two touchdowns on only 10 carries last weekend against Milford, a tune-up for a heavier workload in the post-season.

 If you are Plymouth you may worry about not being battle tested but last year this was a very banged up football team that won the title. Today this is a far healthier group and the most explosive offense in the division.

 The Sabers fell to 7th after their loss to Hollis-Brookline last weekend. A game they had a 16 point lead in and played without two of their best players; Dante Salvo & Kyle Archambault. Both players have a chance to be back this weekend when we cover this game up in Plymouth.

 

(6) John Stark at (3) St Thomas

St Thomas team page

 Two all-state quarterbacks square off in this one when Saints QB Shawn DeKorne goes against Generals QB Parker McQuarrie.

 The key in this game; will John Stark be able to generate enough yardage running the football to not become one dimensional against a good St Thomas defense?

 Tim Bouchard is the leader of that St Thomas defense and if Ryan Brown’s team stops the run and forces McQuarrie to throw the ball 30 times it could be a long day for John Stark. Make no mistake, McQuarrie is a very good passer and in receivers Jack Baumann, Jake Cole and Manny Biskaduros he has the weapons to win a shootout.

 McQuarrie though is a true pocket passer at 6’4 and if you allow St Thomas to line up knowing that he can’t hurt them running out of the pocket it is going to put a lot of pressure on the Generals offensive line.