Bishop Guertin's Matt Santosuosso hopes to enjoy a few long TD runs like this one earlier this season vs. Winacunnet when the Cards take on Dover in the first round of the Division I playoffs on Saturday. (Telegraph file photo by TOM KING)

Bishop Guertin coach John Trisciani was imploring his players to step up their intensity the other night at Stellos Stadium in a fairly mundane blowout of Keene, as the Blackbirds were moving the football.

“Next week,” he said, “you’re going to be facing a playoff team.”

That week is here, as the NHIAA Divison I, II, III and IV playoff pairings are set, as Bishop Guertin, Merrimack and Souhegan will be playing at home this coming weekend, with Campbell on the road:

DIVISION I

This is the most involved playoff of the four divisions, with a whopping 13 teams qualifying, 10 of whom will be playing this weekend in a preliminary round.

Those with byes, as expected, are conference champions Londonderry (No. 1, 8-0, 8-1 overall, Central), Nashua North (No. 2, 9-0, West) and Exeter (No. 3, 6-2, East).

Locally, the Cards (7-2) are seeded at No. 5 and will host No. 12 Dover (3-5) at 2 p.m. Saturday at Stellos Stadium.

The winner will take on the winner of Friday’s 7 p.m. No. 4 Pinkerton (7-1, 7-2 overall) vs. No.13 Spaulding (3-5) in the quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, Merrimack (6-2, 6-3 overall) is seeded No. 8 and will host No. 9 Portsmouth-Oyster River on Friday at 6:30 p.m. The winner takes on Londonderry the weekend of Nov. 12.

The other prelims in Divsion I are No.10 Bedford (5-3) at No. 7 Windham (6-2) on Saturday at 2 p.m, and what’s important about that one is the winner will face Nashua North in the quarterfinals at Stellos either Nov. 11 or 12.

That same weekend, Exeter will get the winner of this weekend’s game between No. 6 Timberlane (7-2) and No. 11 Concord (5-3), Friday at 7 p.m. in Plaistow.

The semis are Saturday, Nov. 19 at the home of the higher seed. For the first time anyone can remember, the Division I finals will be played Thanksgiving weekend, Saturday Nov. 26 at a neutral site to be determined.

“It’s Londonderry,” Trisciani said, “and then there’s everybody else.”

THE PICK: Londonderry over North.

DIVISION II

Souhegan (7-2) is the only local team here in the eight-team affair, seeded at No. 4, as Milford finished 5-4 but lost out in a tiebreaker to St. Thomas, despite the Saints, in the East Conference, finishing 4-5. The point rating was the same, but the Saints had one win against a playoff team in five tries (vs. Kennett) while Milford went 0-4.

The Sabers will host the No. 5 Eagles (6-3) on Saturday, tentatively scheduled for 1 p.m. The two teams did not meet during the season.

The winner meets the winner of top seed Gilford/Belmont (9-0) vs. those St. Thomas Saints (4-5).

In the other bracket, the two quarterfinals are No. 3 Bow (8-1) hosting No. 6 Hanover (6-3) and No. 2 Pelham (9-0) hosting No. 7 Plymouth (5-4).

All the games thus far are still set for Saturday at 1 p.m., but check with school or NHIAA

The semis are Saturday, Nov. 12 at the home of the higher seed with the finals on Nov. 19, neutral site to be determined.

THE PICK: Pelham over Souhegan.

DIVISION III

It’s four on the floor, with No. 3 Campbell (7-2) in the semis, visiting No.3 Monadnock (8-1) Friday night at 6:30. The Huskies routed the Cougars 52-8 back on Oct. 8, but Campbell hasn’t lost since.

In the other semi, NO. 1 Trinity (9-0) will be hosting No. 4 Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough (6-3) Saturday at 2 p.m. in Manchester.

The winners square off in the finals on Saturday, Nov. 12, neutral site to be determined.

THE PICK: Still looks like Trinity, we’ll say over Campbell in the semis upset.

DIVISION IV

It’s also a four team even in Divison IV, with No. 1 Somersworth (7-0) hosting No. 4 Raymond (4-3) and No. 2 Newport (6-1) hosting No. 3 Bishop Brady (4-3).

The winners meet for the title on Saturday, Nov. 12 at a site to be determined.

THE PICK: Somersworth over Newport. Hilltoppers went 7-0 for a reason.