Iowa high school football: A Week 9 playoff peek

For some, it’s the end of the regular season. A chance to clinch a playoff berth, home field and momentum.

For others, it’s the beginning of a new journey. The first round of an expanded 32-team playoff.

Welcome to Week 9.

A primer on where things stand with area football teams:

Class 5A

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

The pivotal game in the area is at John Wall Field, where Cedar Rapids Prairie (6-2, RPI 5) hosts Linn-Mar (5-3, RPI 10).

This much is clear: Prairie has clinched a playoff spot. The Hawks can wrap up a first-round home game with a victory.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy (6-2, RPI 9) and Linn-Mar both are nearly assured postseason berths, and can lock them up with victories (Kennedy hosts Dubuque Hempstead on Thursday).

The Cougars and/or Lions have a chance at a first-round home game if things break right this week.

Iowa City High (5-3, RPI 11) is playoff-bound with a win Friday over Davenport Central.

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

Waverly-Shell Rock (8-0, 4-0) is the champion, and Western Dubuque (5-3, 3-1) can clinch the second automatic bid with a home win over Mason City (4-4, 2-2).

The team of intrigue here is Marion (4-4, 2-2), which has worked its way into at-large consideration with two straight wins. Currently with an RPI of 19, the Wolves are the third team outside the playoff bubble heading into their finale against winless Waterloo East. But several teams above Marion face daunting challenges this week, and if enough dominoes fall, the Wolves just might make it.

DISTRICT 3

Iowa City Liberty (7-1, 4-0) and North Scott (6-2, 3-1) are automatic qualifiers as champion and runner-up, respectively.

Fort Madison (6-2, 2-2) and Burlington (5-3, 2-2) meet in a tossup game Friday at Fort Madison. The winner has a better-than-average chance of landing an at-large berth.

DISTRICT 4

Cedar Rapids Xavier (8-0, 4-0) is the champion. If Cedar Rapids Washington (5-3, 3-1) wins at Pella (2-6, 2-2), the Warriors secure the second automatic spot.

If not, several possibilities exist, most of which do not include Washington in the playoff pool.

Newton (6-2, 2-2) is at Clear Creek Amana (3-5, 1-3). If Pella and Newton win, a three-way tie for second arises. Newton would get the automatic berth based on RPI and it’s unlikely either Washington or Pella would be at-large teams.

If Pella and CCA win, Pella is the second automatic qualifier. Newton would be on the at-large bubble and Washington likely would be out.

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

Independence (8-1, 4-0) is the champion and West Delaware (4-4, 3-1) is the runner-up.

Hampton-Dumont/CAL (5-3, 2-2) has an RPI of 14 and will be sitting strong for an at-large berth if wins at South Tama. Center Point-Urbana (4-4, 2-2, RPI 19) has an outside shot of at-large slot with an upset at Independence.

DISTRICT 4

Mount Vernon (8-0, 4-0) is the champion. Benton Community (6-2, 3-1) has the inside track to the second spot, and can nail it down with a win Friday at DeWitt Central (5-3, 2-2).

Should the Sabers win, it will probably come down to a three-way RPI battle among Central (RPI 13), Benton (RPI 10) and Davenport Assumption (3-5, 2-2, RPI 18).

DISTRICT 5

Solon (6-2, 4-0) is the champion. The second automatic bid will be determined when Grinnell (4-4, 3-1) plays at Fairfield (4-4, 2-2). There will not be an at-large qualifier from this district.

Class 2A

AREA GAME OF THE WEEK: New Hampton (6-2) at No. 10 Waukon (5-3)

Waukon is on a five-game winning spree after starting 0-3, and the Indians have allowed just 14 points in the last four games. They’ll try to slow 2A rushing leader Braden McShane, who has run for 1,524 yards (7.0 per carry) and 19 touchdowns. Waukon has reached the UNI-Dome five straight years, including state-title runs in 2017 and 2020. The Indians were 2A semifinalists last year. Nash Pearson is a consistent receiving target, with 42 catches for 559 yards and three touchdowns.

OTHER FIRST-ROUND GAMES

Camanche (4-4) at No. 2 Williamsburg (8-0)

Central Lee (3-5) at No. 9 Monticello (6-2)

Mid-Prairie (5-3) at Northeast (4-4)

North Fayette Valley (6-2) at Crestwood (5-3)

Union Community (2-6) at No. 6 Greene County (7-1)

West Liberty (3-5) at Dubuque Wahlert (6-2)

Class 1A

AREA GAME OF THE WEEK: Iowa City Regina (5-3) at No. 7 Pella Christian (7-1)

Regina has struggled to put up points against elite defenses, and Pella Christian qualifies in that regard. The Eagles are allowing 9.3 points per game, third-best in 1A. Regina has a strong defense, too (14.6 ppg allowed), and that should give the Regals a chance. Ronan Poynton leads the Regals with 51.5 tackles, and Steven Liu has four interceptions. They’ll have their eyes on Pella Christian’s running game; Benny Schirz and QB Isaac Kacmarynski have combined for more than 1,700 rushing yards and 30 TDs.

OTHER FIRST-ROUND GAMES

Cascade (5-3) at No. 10 Dike-New Hartford (6-2)

Durant (5-3) at No. 8 MFL MarMac (7-1)

South Hardin (3-5) at No. 3 West Branch (8-0)

Sumner-Fredericksburg (4-4) at Sigourney-Keota (6-2)

Class A

AREA GAME OF THE WEEK: Lisbon (5-3) at No. 8 East Buchanan (7-1)

You know what you’re getting when you face East Buchanan. You’re getting a simple, yet productive, running attack. And you’re going to get hit. The Buccaneers average nearly 400 rushing yards per game, and three guys have more than 10 rushing TDs. Tanner Thurn has rushed for 994 yards and 12 touchdowns, followed by Ryland Cornell (983 and 15) and Hunter Bowers (792 and 10). With an offensive unit that scores at a 33-point clip, Lisbon will try to keep pace. QB Cohen Kamaus has accumulated 18 total TDs.

OTHER FIRST-ROUND GAMES

Bellevue (4-4) at No. 10 Alburnett (7-1)

Belle Plaine (4-4) at No. 2 Grundy Center (8-0)

Maquoketa Valley (5-3) at Columbus Community (7-1)

Wapello (4-4) at No. 6 North Linn (7-1)

8-Player

AREA GAME OF THE WEEK: Central City (7-1) at Tripoli (6-2)

Central City is in the postseason for just the third time in school history, and the Wildcats’ peak probably won’t come until 2023. The task for this young team is to corral Tripoli’s prolific running quarterback Rowan Carlson, who ranks fourth in the 8-Player game in rushing (1,605 yards) and leads the state in all-purpose yards (1,981). Central City answers with the Klostermann boys: Aiden, a junior, has rushed for 926 yards and 15 touchdowns. And Matthew, a sophomore, leads the team in tackles, with 43.

OTHER FIRST-ROUND GAMES

BGM (6-2) at No. 5 Easton Valley (6-1)

Edgewood-Colesburg (4-3) at Turkey Valley (6-1)

Iowa Valley (6-3) at Montezuma (7-2)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com