Playoff Preview: Division II

By rbrown
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Updated: November 4, 2021

DIVISION II QUARTERFINALS
CAPSULE PREVIEWS

Gilford/Belmont at Timberlane

When and where: Friday (6:30 p.m.) in Plaistow.
Team records: Eighth-seeded Gilford/Belmont is 5-3. Top-seeded Timberlane is 9-0.
Regular-season result: Timberlane won 47-12 in Plaistow.
Noteworthy: Timberlane took control of the regular-season meeting between these teams in the first half. The Owls led 27-6 entering the third quarter. … Gilford/Belmont kept its playoff hopes alive by upsetting St. Thomas 14-10 last Friday. The Golden Eagles secured a berth the following day, when Bow beat Manchester West. … Gilford/Belmont quarterback Isaiah Reese tossed a touchdown pass to Riley Marsh during the previous meeting against Timberlane. Gilford/Belmont’s other TD came on a 6-yard run by Michael Kitto. … Timberlane quarterback Dom Coppeta sustained a broken fibula against Sanborn on Oct. 8. Sophomore Gary Shivell has started at QB in Timberlane’s last four games. … The Owls have a stong 1-2 punch at running back with Dan Post (731 yards, 13 TDs) and Dom Pallaria (730 yards, 11 TDs).

Hanover vs. St. Thomas

When and where: Friday (6 p.m.) in Dover.
Team records: Fifth-seeded Hanover is 6-3. Fourth-seeded St. Thomas is 7-2.
Regular-season result: The teams did not meet.
Noteworthy: St. Thomas had a seven-game winning streak end when it dropped a 14-10 decision to Gilford/Belmont last weekend. The Saints’ other loss came against Timberlane in Week 1 (43-0). … Hanover opened the season with five consecutive victories, but then lost three games in a row to three playoff teams: Milford (34-7), Souhegan (27-20) and Lebanon (43-0). … St. Thomas has held seven of its nine opponents to 14 points or less. The Marauders allowed 58 points in their five victories. … The winner of this game will face either top-seeded Timberlane or eighth-seeded Gilford/Belmont in the semifinals.

Souhegan vs. Lebanon

When and where: Saturday (1 p.m.) in Lebanon.
Team records: Seventh-seeded Souhegan is 5-3. Second-seeded Lebanon is 8-0.
Regular-season result: Lebanon won 41-0 in Lebanon.
Noteworthy: Lebanon is one of five unbeaten teams in the state, joining Timberlane, Winnacunnet, Pelham and Newport. … The Raiders had a 28-0 halftime lead during the regular season game against Souhegan. Quarterback Jack Stone rushed for 116 yards on 11 carries, and tossed a TD pass to Nyeoti Punni. … Souhegan quarterback Romy Jain, a freshman, completed 8 of 28 passes and was intercepted twice in the loss. Jain has 19 passing touchdowns and three rushing TDs in eight games. … Lebanon hasn’t allowed a point in its last four games. … Souhegan, last year’s Division II champion, went 1-2 against other playoff teams during the regular season, but enters the postseason on a three-game winning streak. The Sabers held their opponents to no more than eight points in four of their five victories. … Lebanon was unbeaten last year heading into the Division II semifinals when its season ended because of a COVID issue outside its program.

Plymouth vs. Milford

When and where: Saturday (3 p.m.) in Milford.
Team records: Sixth-seeded Plymouth is 6-3. Third-seeded Milford is 6-2.
Regular-season result: The teams did not meet.
Noteworthy: Plymouth is attempting to reach the Division II championship game for the sixth consecutive year. The Bobcats won three straight titles before finishing as the Division II runner-up in 2019 and 2020. … Milford’s only losses came against unbeaten Lebanon (27-14) and unbeaten Timberlane (21-14). … The Spartans didn’t allow more than 16 points in any of their six victories. … This game may be decided by how well Plymouth defends the run, since Milford likes to pound away with running backs Caden Zalenski and Logan Barnhill. … Plymouth’s losses came against Timberlane (28-13), St. Thomas (28-21) and Sanborn (22-14). The Bobcats have lost two of their last three games. … Plymouth surrendered 53 points in its six victories. … The winner of this game will face either second-seeded Lebanon or seventh-seeded Souhegan in the semifinals.