Division II playoff preview

By rbrown
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Updated: November 2, 2017

DIVISION II QUARTERFINALS
CAPSULE PREVIEWS

Bow vs. Windham

When and where: Saturday (1:30 p.m.) in Windham.
Team records: Top-seeded Windham is 8-0. Eighth-seeded Bow is 6-2.
Regular-season result: The teams did not meet.
Noteworthy: Windham earned the No. 1 seed for the Division II playoffs for the second consecutive season. The Jaguars lost to Plymouth in last year’s semifinals. … Bow isn’t your typical No. 8 seed. The Falcons returned many players on the team that lost to Plymouth in last year’s championship game. Bow’s only losses this season came against Plymouth (42-26) and John Stark (7-6). … Bow posted four shutouts and held six of its eight opponents to seven points or less. … Windham beat each of its eight opponents by at least 10 points and went 3-0 against playoff teams. The Jaguars scored at least 25 points in each of its eight victories and put at least 46 points on the scoreboard in five games. … The Bow/Windham winner will face wither Hollis/Brookline or Hanover in the semifinals.

Hollis/Brookline vs. Hanover

When and where: Saturday (3 p.m.) in Hanover.
Team records: Fourth-seeded Hanover is 8-0. Seventh-seeded Hollis/Brookline is 6-2..
Regular-season result: The teams did not meet.
Noteworthy: Hanover went unbeaten in the regular season for the second year in a row. The Marauders didn’t allow more than 14 points in any of their eight victories. … Moises Celaya is the best kicker in the state and gives Hanover the edge in that category against any team it plays. … Hollis/Brookline’s Sander Wimmer, who began the season as the team’s No. 2 quarterback, has completed 138 of 222 passes for 2,066 yards and 26 touchdowns (eight interceptions). … Hollis/Brookline’s Matt Simco has caught a team-high 47 passes for 885 yards and 13 TDs. … Seven of Hanover’s eight victories came against non-playoff teams. John Stark is the only team it beat that advanced. … Hollis/Brookine had to beat Souhegan last Saturday to reach the postseason.

Souhegan vs. Plymouth

When and where: Saturday (1 p.m.) in Plymouth.
Team records: Second-seeded Plymouth is 8-0. Seventh-seeded Souhegan is 5-3.
Regular-season result: The teams did not meet.
Noteworthy: Plymouth enters this contest with a 12-game winning streak — the longest winning streak in the state — and is seeking its second Division II title in as many years. The Bobcats beat Bow in last year’s championship game. … Souhegan went 1-3 against playoff teams during the regular season. … The Sabers were without running back Dante Savo (knee) in Saturday’s 48-42 loss to Hollis/Brookline. … Plymouth scored at least 42 points in every game it played this season, but Bow is the only team it faced that finished the regular season with a winning record. … The Plymouth/Souhegan winner will face either St. Thomas or John Stark in the semifinals.

John Stark vs. St. Thomas

When and where: Saturday (1 p.m.) in Dover.
Team records: Third-seeded St. Thomas is 7-1. Sixth-seeded John Stark is 6-2.
Regular-season result: The teams did not meet.
Noteworthy: This is the fourth Division II playoff game that will feature a team from the North Conference (John Stark) against a team from the South Conference (St. Thomas). … Top-seeded Windham handed St. Thomas its only loss (25-16). The Saints scored at least 41 points in five of their eight games. … John Stark lost its opener against Souhegan and lost its last game against Hanover, but won six games in between. … The Generals held their opponents to 95 points this season ad went 1-2 against teams that reached the postseason.