Two-time defending champion Pinkerton Academy (6-0) has punched its ticket to the Div. I playoffs, Londonderry appears to be in and four other teams are still in the running for the other two spots.

At 5-1, the task for Nashua South is simple enough. All it needs to do is win one of its two remaining games. If it wins both the Panthers gain home field advantage throughout the playoff. When the Panthers meet 5-2 Londonderry on Friday night, the winner is guaranteed a spot in the playoff.

But what happens if South losses to Londonderry and then to Pinkerton a week later? Then it depends on what happens in other games. Should 4-2 Salem lose it’s last two against Manchester Central and Manchester West, South would survive a three-way tie for third at 5-3 with Central and West because it beat both teams. Central would get the No. 4 seed by virtue of its head to head win Friday over West.

Now what if Salem beats and eliminates Central next week, 3-3 West gets by Memorial, and West goes on to beat Salem. South, West and Salem would finish in a three-way tie for third at 5-3, but one team would be eliminated.

In the first tiebreaker, head-to-head competition among the three teams, all three would be 1-1. In rating against teams selected for the tournament, West would be 2-2 and get third. Salem and South would both be 1-3, and when the tiebreaker reverts back to head-to-head, Salem gets the fourth seed and South is eliminated.

What happens to Londonderry if South wins Friday night? The Lancers could finish in the three-way tie for third with Salem and West. West would get third because it was 2-0 among the teams in the three-way tie, Londonderry would get the fourth spot because it beat Salem head-to-head.

Now what if Londonderry, Central and West all finish 5-3 and tied for third. Once again, all three are 1-1 in head to head competition. Londonderry wins the next tiebreaker with its 2-2 record against teams selected for the tournament. When it reverts back to head-to-head, West is eliminated and Central takes the fourth spot.