Week 9 playoff primer

The possibility of a Kingston Stadium first-round playoff triple-header remains very much in play, if the Iowa High School Athletic Association wants to make it happen.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy and Cedar Rapids Washington have wrapped up district titles, and Cedar Rapids Jefferson clinched home-field advantage with a significant win Thursday against Linn-Mar.

For the final time in the foreseeable future, the playoff fields will consist of 32 teams in each class (it will be carved in half for 2016). First-round pairings will be released late Friday night by the IHSAA.

Again this year, pairings will be released after each round rather than a predetermined set of brackets.

Here is a look at the area district races and scenarios with one game remaining:

CLASS 4A DISTRICT 5

The four qualifiers have been determined, and Kennedy (8-0, 4-0) has wrapped up the title. Jefferson (6-3, 3-2) vaulted into the second spot via a 43-16 win over Linn-Mar (4-5, 3-2) on Thursday, which will force the IHSAA to make a decision on first-round site assignments. The Lions and Cedar Falls (6-3, 3-2) are the other qualifiers.

CLASS 4A DISTRICT 6

Washington (7-1, 4-0) wrapped up the title with a win last week at Iowa City High. The Little Hawks (5-3, 3-1) also have a playoff berth wrapped up, and clinch home field with a win at Muscatine (6-2, 2-2). Cedar Rapids Prairie (3-5, 2-2) is a qualifier unless it loses at Ottumwa (4-4, 1-3) and Muscatine beats City High.

CLASS 4A DISTRICT 7

The champion will be determined at Pleasant Valley, where the Spartans (6-2, 3-0) host Iowa City West (3-5, 3-0). If Dubuque Hempstead (5-3, 1-2) defeats Davenport Central (1-7, 0-3), the Mustangs and Davenport North (1-7, 1-3) qualify. If not, it comes down to the 13-point rule — currently Hempstead is at minus-19, North minus-24, Central minus-35.

CLASS 3A DISTRICT 3

It's not as tricky as it looks. West Delaware (8-0, 5-0) is the champion, Independence (7-1, 5-1) is the runner-up and Decorah (4-4, 3-2) is third. Waverly-Shell Rock (5-3, 2-3) gets the fourth slot regardless of Friday's outcome at Charles City (3-5, 1-4) because the Go-Hawks would hold the point-differential advantage on both Charles City and the winner between Crestwood (2-6, 1-4) and Vinton-Shellsburg (2-6, 1-4).

CLASS 3A DISTRICT 4

The playoff quartet is set, led by champion Cedar Rapids Xavier (7-0, 5-0). Maquoketa (6-2, 5-1) is the runner-up, and Solon (4-4, 3-2) and Dubuque Wahlert (3-5, 3-2) play for third place at Dubuque.

CLASS 3A DISTRICT 5

It's simple here. Davenport Assumption (7-2, 6-0) won the district championship by beating Washington (7-2, 5-1) on Thursday. Fairfield (4-4, 3-2) is at Clear Creek Amana (4-4, 3-2) on Friday with third place on the line.

CLASS 3A DISTRICT 6

Gilbert (7-1, 5-0) has wrapped up the title, with Ballard (5-3, 4-1), Bondurant-Farrar (5-3, 4-2) and Benton Community (5-3, 3-2) claiming the other three slots, in that order.

CLASS 2A DISTRICT 3

The most competitive district in 2A features a three-way tie at the top. North Fayette Valley (6-2, 4-1) holds the point-differential edge at plus-44 and claims the title if all three co-leaders win. Dyersville Beckman (5-3, 4-1) is sitting second at plus-31, Waukon (7-1, 4-1) is third at plus-27. Waukon wins the title with a win and a North Fayette Valley loss (to New Hampton); Beckman is the champion with a win and a Waukon loss (to Oelwein). New Hampton (4-4, 3-2) is the fourth-place team.

CLASS 2A DISTRICT 4

Anamosa (8-0, 5-0) has the championship in hand. The winner between Mount Vernon (6-2, 4-1) and Tipton (7-1, 4-1) gains the second spot — and home-field advantage in Round 1. Cascade (4-4, 3-2) earns the fourth spot.

CLASS 2A DISTRICT 5

Central Lee (7-1, 5-1) clinched the title last week with a win over Williamsburg (5-3, 4-1), and the Raiders are the runners-up. Third place is on the line this week, when Mid-Prairie (6-2, 3-2) hosts Mediapolis (6-2, 3-2).

CLASS 2A DISTRICT 6

South Tama (8-0, 5-0) visits Aplington-Parkersburg (7-1, 5-0) Friday with the district title on the line. Union (3-5, 3-2) has the third slot locked up, and the fourth spot will be snagged by the winner between Roland-Story (3-4, 2-3) and Iowa Falls-Alden (3-5, 2-3).

CLASS 1A DISTRICT 4

The title belongs to Dike-New Hartford (8-0, 5-0). The Wolverines are at Jesup (5-3, 3-2), which will grab the fourth spot, regardless of Friday's outcome. South Winneshiek (6-2, 4-1) visits Hudson (7-1, 4-1), with the winner taking second place and the loser finishing third.

CLASS 1A DISTRICT 5

West Branch (8-0, 5-0) can lock up the district title if it wins at Alburnett (7-1, 4-1). The Bears also take the title in the event of a three-way tie, if Wilton (4-4, 4-1) defeats North Cedar (2-6, 2-3). Alburnett is the champion if it upsets West Branch and if North Cedar knocks off Wilton. Bellevue (4-4, 2-3) gets the fourth spot if it defeats Wapello (2-6, 0-5) and/or a Wilton win over North Cedar.

CLASS 1A DISTRICT 6

Lots of possibilities, and all seven teams have at least a glimmer of hope of making the postseason. Iowa City Regina (7-1, 5-0) is in the driver's seat, and takes the title if it wins at Pella Christian (6-2, 4-1). If Pella Christian wins, the Eagles are champions if Sigourney-Keota (5-3, 4-1) loses to West Marshall (2-6, 1-4). The battle for fourth place is full of possibilities. Highland (4-4, 2-4) plays a non-disrict game with Central Lee, and the Huskies' fate will be determined by other results within the district — West Marshall's outcome with Sigourney-Keota, and a battle at Columbus Junction between Eddyville EBF (1-7, 1-4) and Columbus Community (2-6, 1-4). In the event of a two-way tie, Highland lost to Columbus and defeated EBF. If it's a three-way tie, Highland's point-differential is locked at minus-31, West Marshall is minus-32, Columbus minus-39, EBF minus-41.

CLASS A DISTRICT 4

All is determined here. Denver (7-1, 5-0) is the champion, followed in order by Gladbrook-Reinbeck (6-2, 4-1), Grundy Center (4-4, 3-2) and Ackley AGWSR (3-5, 3-3).

CLASS A DISTRICT 5

Maquoketa Valley (6-2, 6-0) has successfully defended its crown. It could be murky after that: Lisbon (6-2, 5-1) is at North-Linn (4-4, 4-2), and East Buchanan (5-3, 4-2) travels to Easton Valley (3-5, 3-3). If East Buchanan wins, Easton Valley is eliminated. North-Linn could finish as high as second if it wins (and if Easton Valley wins) or could be shut out of the postseason altogether with a loss and an Easton Valley victory. The most likely scenario is Lisbon second, East Buchanan third, North-Linn fourth.

CLASS A DISTRICT 6

Winfield-Mount Union (8-0, 6-0) hosts Pekin (7-1, 6-0), and the victor claims the district crown while the loser is the runner-up. Lone Tree (5-3, 4-2) has claimed a postseason berth and can virtually eliminate New London (4-4, 3-3) with a victory. If New London wins, the Tigers have a chance if WACO (3-5, 3-3) loses to Danville (2-6, 2-4).

CLASS A DISTRICT 7

BGM (8-0, 6-0) has wrapped up the district title, and Colfax-Mingo (6-2, 5-1) is the runner-up. Montezuma (6-2, 4-2) is sitting good for a spot, win or lose against BGM, based on its point differential. Lynnville-Sully (5-3, 4-2) leapfrogs Montezuma for third if it beats Belle Plaine (5-3, 3-3) and Montezuma loses. Belle Plaine can push Lynnville-Sully out of the playoffs with a win by seven points or more (if Montezuma loses) or any sort of victory (if Montezuma wins).

8-PLAYER DISTRICT 4

The playoff qualifiers have been determined, and so has their order. Elkader Central (8-0, 6-0) is the champion, followed by Turkey Valley (6-2, 5-1), Midland (5-3, 4-2) and Springville (4-5, 3-3).

8-PLAYER DISTRICT 5

Don Bosco (6-0, 5-0) is the champion, while the runner-up will be determined this week when Colo-Nesco (7-1, 4-1) visits HLV (7-1, 4-1). Meskwaki Settlement (4-5, 3-3) has wrapped up the fourth berth and is idle Friday.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com