DIVISION IV SEMIFINALS
No. 4 St. Thomas vs. No. 1 Laconia

When and where: Sunday (1 p.m.) at Laconia High School.
Team records: St. Thomas is 6-3. Laconia is 9-0.
Regular-season result: Laconia won 28-7 in Dover.
Last state championship: St. Thomas (2006). Laconia (1999).
Noteworthy: St. Thomas turned the ball over five times when these teams met in the regular season. Three of those turnovers led to Laconia touchdowns. ... Laconia hasn't allowed a point in its last four games and hasn't surrendered more than seven points in a game since its opening contest against Lebanon (49-19). The Saints have been pretty stingy lately as well. St. Thomas has given up 31 points in its last four games, 13 of which came late in Saturday's 26-16 victory over Fall Mountain. ... St. Thomas also entered the playoffs as the No. 4 seed last year, when it upset Laconia 21-3 in the Division IV championship game. ... Laconia has a two-pronged rushing attack that features junior Christian Birt and senior Robert Moss. Birt passed the 1,000-yard mark in last weekend's victory over Monadnock. ... St. Thomas split end Matt McLaughlin gives the Saints a big-play threat in the passing game and on kick returns. ... St. Thomas coach Rod Wotton enters this game with a career coaching record of 323-68-3. ... The winner of this game will play either second-seeded Hanover (8-1) or third-seeded Kearsarge (7-2) in the Division IV championship game.

No. 3 Kearsarge vs. No. 2 Hanover

When and where: Sunday (1 p.m.) at Hanover High School.
Team records: Kearsarge is 7-2. Hanover is 8-1.
Regular-season result: Hanover won 44-14 in Hanover.
Last state championship: Kearsarge (none). Hanover  (2005).
Noteworthy: Kearsarge's two losses were against the two top seeds in the Division IV playoffs, and neither game was close. Kearsarge's 30-point loss against Hanover came one week after the Cougars lost to Laconia, 38-0. ... Hanover has won seven in a row. The Marauders haven't allowed more than 14 points in any of their victories. ... Kearsarge runs a double-wing offense, but has a big-play threat in quarterback Bobby Williams. The key will likely be how well the Cougars can move the ball on the ground. ... Each of these teams lost to Laconia, but beat St. Thomas during the regular season. ... Hanover has won three of the last five Division IV championships.  ... If St. Thomas upsets Laconia in the other semifinal, the winner of this game will be at home for the Division IV championship game. If Laconia beats St. Thomas the championship game will be played in Laconia.