Semifinal Preview: Division II

By rbrown
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Updated: November 13, 2024

DIVISION II SEMIFINALS
Souhegan vs. Plymouth
Division II Bracket

When and where: Saturday (1 p.m.) at Plymouth Regional High School.
Team records: Fourth-seeded Souhegan is 8-2. Second-seeded Plymouth is 10-0
Regular-season result: Plymouth won 28-21 in overtime in Amherst.
Noteworthy: Plymouth running back Robbie Thorne scored three touchdowns, including a 1-yard run in overtime, when these teams met earlier this season. The Bobcats jumped out to a 14-0 lead on Thorne’s 11-yard TD run and a 3-yard TD run by Tristan Patridge (20 carries, 125 yards), but Souhegan tied the game when quarterback Michael Fiengo tossed a 78-yard TD pass to Aidan McGrath (four receptions for 120 yards) and then the Sabers kicked the PAT. Fiengo completed 21-of-30 passes for 323 yards in the loss, including an 8-yard TD pass to running back Ryan Raudelunas that helped tie the game, 21-21. … The first meeting ended when Souhegan’s Brayden Hickman was stopped on the 3-yard line following a 17-yard reception in overtime. … Plymouth beat eighth-seeded Merrimack Valley 42-7 in the quarterfinals. Souhegan advanced with a 34-6 victory over John Stark. … Plymouth defeated Souhegan 21-20 in last year’s semifinals. The Bobcats haven’t lost a home playoff game since 1999, when Laconia beat Plymouth in the Division III semifinals. … The winner will face either Trinity or Pelham at a site to be determined.

Trinity vs. Pelham
Division II Bracket

When and where: Friday (6:30 p.m.) at Pelham High School.
Team records: Fourth-seeded Trinity is 9-1. Second-seeded Pelham is 9-1.
Regular-season result: Trinity won 41-28 in Pelham.
Noteworthy: Although Trinity and Pelham have the same record and the Pioneers prevailed 41-28 when the teams met during the regular season, Pelham is the higher seed because it finished first in Division II West and the conference champions are seeded No. 1 and No. 2 regardless of their record. Trinity finished second, behind Plymouth, in Division II East. … Trinity’s victory over Pelham in Week 7 ended Pelham’s 47-game winning streak, which was the third longest winning streak in the nation at the time. Trinity’s Anthony Digiantommaso ran for 146 yards and four touchdowns in the win. Pelham led 22-21 after quarterback Kevin Hardy tossed a 37-yard TD pass to Junior MacKinnon and MacKinnon added the two-point conversion, but Trinity regained the lead on Dom Detone’s 2-yard TD run. Digiantommaso capped the scoring with a 51-yard TD run. … MacKinnon ran for 127 yards on 19 carries in the loss. … Digiantommaso and MacKinnon are among the 10 semifinalists for the Joe Yukica Player of the Year Award. … Pelham beat seventh-seeded Manchester West 35-0 in the quarterfinals. Trinity advanced to the semifinals by beating Bow 28-0 in the quarterfinals. … Pelham is seeking its fifth consecutive championship. The Pythons won the Division III title in 2020 and 2021, and won the Division II title in each of the last two seasons. Pelham beat Trinity in the 2021 Division III championship game. … The Pionners moved to Division II after winning last year’s Division III championship.

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