Monday Mailbag: Who's moving where?
Each Monday New Hampshire Football Report's Roger Brown answers your questions:
Q: Hi Roger. Love your site. Where do things stand with realignment. I read (and heard) that BG is moving up to D1 and Exeter is going back down. I think it would be great if both were in D1. -- Jim, Merrimack
A: Contacted a member of the committee Monday morning who said nothing has been finalized and there is a meeting later this week. Following Friday's game against Manchester Central, Exeter coach Bill Ball said at this point nothing is official.
Q: It looks like Trinity, Plymouth, Laconia and Monadnock have locked up playoff spots in Division IV, and Trinity and Plymouth will host the semifinals. Do I have this correct? -- Jack, Concord.
A: Yes, Trinity, Plymouth, Laconia and Monadnock have all secured postseason berths, and Trinity and Plymouth will be seeded No. 1 and No. 2 respectively. The No. 3 and No. 4 seeds will be determined Friday night, when Monadnock plays at Laconia.
Q: Guertin fan here. Didn't like what I saw Saturday night and I DO NOT want to see BG play Winnacunnet in the playoffs. I realize Winnacunnet is a longshot to get it, but what has to happen for them to make it? I'm assuming they'd play BG if they do get in. -- George, Tewksbury, Mass.
A: If Winnacunnet does qualify it will do so as the No. 4 seed and would likely play at BG in the semifinals. Although Winnacunnet is 2-4 in the division, the Warriors have winnable games against Keene (2-4) and Merrimack (2-5) remaining. Three things have to happen for the Warriors to qualify: Winnacunnet has to finish 4-4, Timberlane has to beat Spaulding this weekend and Alvirne has to lose at least one of its two remaining Division II games (BG and West). In that scenario Winnacunnet would win a tiebreaker against Spaulding (head-to-head result) and earn the No. 4 seed.
Q: What do you make of Division III (four teams are 5-1). Would you call any team "the favorite." -- Seacoastfan
A: Well, I've been touting Portsmouth all season, but have to drop them a notch after Saturday's loss to Hollis-Brookline. Perhaps moe than any other team, Portsmouth will benefit from playing on turf. Bad field conditions in the playoffs are certainly possible, and that won't work in the Clippers' favor.
If any team is the favorite it has to be Hollis-Brookline, since the Cavaliers have the inside track to the No. 1 seed. There's still a lot to be determined however. Let's not forget that Souhegan can still play its way into the playoffs as well. Should be two very interesting semifinal matchups in this division.
Q: Hi Roger. I used to follow your coverage of Marshwood High School football (Rod Wotton's old school for those who don't know) in the Portsmouth Herald when I lived in Maine years ago. I can attest to the benefits of playing all of the New Hampshire championship games one after another at the same stadium (as you have suggested) as I have attended several Super Saturdays at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland. I'm back in Nashua now and have the following question: It seems possible that both Bishop Guertin and Nashua South will play home games in the semifinals. Since they share the same field would there be any chance for a playoff doubleheader? Maybe one game at noon and the other at 4? -- Tom Michaud
A: It looks like Friday's Nashua South/Exeter winner will be the No. 2 seed in Division I. That would make a playoff doubleheder possible since BG has already secured home-field advantage for the semifinals. There's also the possibility that one game will be played Friday night and the other will be played Saturday. I would certainly prefer the doubleheader, but I'm not sure if that possibility has been discussed.
Questions for Monday Mailbag can be submitted to rbrown@nhfootballreport.com. Questions may be edited for clarity.
