Iowa high school football: Tracking the 2022 area playoff races

The 32-team football playoff field for Class 2A, Class 1A, Class A and 8-Player will be finalized after this week’s games.

Class 5A, Class 4A and Class 3A conclude their regular season next week, with 16 teams advancing to the postseason.

The following is a primer on area races:

Class 5A

All 16 qualifiers will be determined via the Ratings Percentage Index.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy (6-1, RPI 5) and Cedar Rapids Prairie (5-2, RPI 6) are virtually assured of playoff berths. Both will clinch first-round home-field advantage if they win their last two games, and either has a chance to host quarterfinal games if they sweep, and if somebody above them stumbles. The top four teams are — in order — West Des Moines Dowling, Southeast Polk, Ankeny and Pleasant Valley.

Three area teams are on the postseason bubble. Iowa City High (4-3, RPI 16) and Linn-Mar (4-3, RPI 17) are better than 50-50 bets to make the field if they win their last two games. Iowa City West (4-3, RPI 20) hurt its chances with last week’s upset loss to Bettendorf, but the Trojans can qualify with two wins and some help.

Class 4A

The 16-team field consists of the champion and runner-up of each district, plus four at-large teams based on RPI.

DISTRICT 2

The district lead is on the line Friday, when Waverly-Shell Rock (7-0, 3-0) hosts Western Dubuque (5-2, 3-0). WSR is the district champion with a win. If Western Dubuque pulls off the road upset, the Bobcats can wrap up the district title next week with a win over Mason City (4-3, 2-1), or this week if Mason City loses to Marion (3-4, 1-2).

DISTRICT 3

Iowa City Liberty (6-1, 3-0) is the champion if it handles business Friday at Burlington (5-2, 2-1). North Scott (5-2, 2-1) travels to Fort Madison (6-1, 2-1) this week in another game of consequence, and the favored Lancers can pretty much wrap up a playoff berth with a victory.

DISTRICT 4

Cedar Rapids Xavier (7-0, 3-0) has won its last four games via shutout, and the Saints are district champions if they defeat Newton (6-1, 2-1) this week at home. Cedar Rapids Washington (4-3, 2-1) is in line for the second spot if it concludes the regular season with wins over Oskaloosa (1-6, 0-3) at home and Pella (1-6, 1-2) on the road, assuming Xavier wins Friday.

Class 3A

The 16-team field consists of the champion and runner-up of each district, plus four at-large teams based on RPI.

DISTRICT 3

The pivotal game of this district is Friday at Manchester, where Independence (7-1, 3-0) and West Delaware (4-3, 3-0) collide. The Hawks wrap up the district title with a win; an Indee victory would delay a Mustangs clinch until next week, unless Hampton-Dumont/CAL (4-3, 1-2) wins at Center Point-Urbana (4-3, 2-1) on Friday.

DISTRICT 4

Mount Vernon (7-0, 3-0) is in control here. The Mustangs can win the title with a home win against DeWitt Central (5-2, 2-1). Benton Community (5-2, 2-1) is the second automatic qualifier if it beats Central in Week 9, regardless of what happens this week.

DISTRICT 5

Solon (5-2, 3-0) can — and should — win the title with a victory Friday at home against Grinnell (4-3, 3-0). Should Solon win, the second spot probably will be determined next week when Grinnell travels to Fairfield (4-3, 2-1).

Class 2A

The top four teams from each of eight districts will comprise a 32-team field.

DISTRICT 4

Waukon (4-3, 4-0) is the champion, and Dubuque Wahlert (5-2, 3-1) is the runner-up. If North Fayette Valley (5-2, 2-2) wins at Oelwein (2-5, 1-3), the TigerHawks and Union Community (2-5, 2-2) will finish third and fourth.

DISTRICT 5

Monticello (5-2, 4-0) hosts Northeast (4-3, 3-1) on Friday, and the winner claims the district crown. Camanche (3-4, 2-2) is at Tipton (0-7, 0-4) this week, and West Liberty (2-5, 2-2) is at Anamosa (1-6, 1-3). Camanche and West Liberty are sure qualifiers if they win, though neither victory is a sure thing.

DISTRICT 6

Williamsburg (7-0, 4-0) wears the district crown. Centerville (5-2, 3-1) is assured of the second spot if it beats Central Lee (3-4, 2-2). Mid-Prairie (4-3, 2-2) hosts Davis County (3-4, 1-3), and if the Golden Hawks win, that will send them and Central Lee both into the postseason.

Class 1A

The top four teams from each of eight districts will comprise a 32-team field.

DISTRICT 4

The four qualifiers have been determined, led by champion MFL MarMac (6-1, 4-0). The current order of the other three teams is Waterloo Columbus (4-3, 3-1), then Cascade (4-3, 2-2), then Sumner-Fredericksburg (4-3, 2-2). Cascade is a lock to win against Postville (0-7, 0-4) this week, with Columbus hosting S-F.

DISTRICT 5

West Branch (7-0, 4-0) is the class of this strong district, and owns the championship. Mediapolis (6-1, 3-1) has locked up the second spot, while Durant (5-2, 2-2) and Iowa City Regina (4-3, 2-2) will determine the third and fourth spots Friday at Durant.

DISTRICT 6

Sigourney-Keota (5-2, 4-0) is the champion. Pella Christian (6-1, 3-1) and Central Decatur (4-3, 3-1) have wrapped up playoff spots, and the winner of their Friday encounter at Leon earns home field for the first round. Pleasantville (2-5, 1-3) gets the fourth spot if it wins at Cardinal (0-7, 0-4).

Class A

The top four teams from each of eight districts will comprise a 32-team field.

DISTRICT 4

North Linn (6-1, 5-0) can make this simple by winning at Maquoketa Valley (5-2, 4-1) and clinching the title outright. A Maquoketa Valley upset win could create a three-way deadlock with the Lynx and East Buchanan (6-1, 4-1), and the Wildcats could win it outright if South Winneshiek (2-5, 2-3) shocks East Buchanan.

North Linn, East Buchanan and Maquoketa Valley are assured playoff spots, and Bellevue (3-4, 2-3) joins the party if it wins at Clayton Ridge (1-6, 0-5).

DISTRICT 5

Alburnett (6-1, 5-0) and Columbus Community (7-0, 5-0) vie for the district title Friday at Columbus Junction. Lisbon (4-3, 4-2) has concluded district play and is the third-place team, and Wapello (3-4, 2-3) makes the playoffs with a win at home against North Cedar (1-6, 1-4).

DISTRICT 6

Lynnville-Sully (7-0, 5-0) is the champion. The only area team in this district, Belle Plaine (4-3, 3-2) has qualified and appears locked into the fourth slot.

8-Player

The top three teams from each of 10 districts automatically qualify, along with two at-large teams based on the 17-point rule.

DISTRICT 3

Turkey Valley (5-1, 4-0) earned the district title last week with a win over Tripoli (5-2, 4-1). Clarksville (3-3, 2-2) is favored to grab the third automatic bid with a win Friday over Riceville (2-6, 1-3).

DISTRICT 5

Easton Valley (5-1, 4-0) is the champion; Central City (6-1, 4-1) is the runner-up. Midland (5-2, 2-2) and Edgewood-Colesburg (3-3, 2-2) will haggle over the third sure bid Friday at Wyoming, with the loser in the pool for one of two at-large bids.

DISTRICT 6

WACO (8-0, 6-0) is the champion; New London (5-3, 5-1) is the runner-up. Iowa Valley (5-3, 4-2) can assure itself the third spot with a win at Lone Tree (3-4, 3-3). If not, that could present a three-way tie — and a point-spread fight — among those two teams and Winfield-Mount Union (5-3, 3-3) if the Wolves win at home against English Valleys (2-5, 2-4).

DISTRICT 7

Montezuma (6-2, 5-0) is the champion; Baxter (6-1, 4-1) is the runner-up. BGM (5-2, 3-2) is heavily favored to nail down the third automatic bid with a win at Melcher-Dallas (3-4, 2-3).

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com