A glance at the playoff race

Two weeks remain in the prep football season. Here is a primer on where things stand in the area as Week 8 approaches:

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY CONFERENCEFour teams have clinched playoff berths:

Iowa City West (7-0, 4-0) and

Dubuque Senior (6-1, 3-1) in the Mississippi Division, and

Cedar Falls (7-0, 5-0) and

Cedar Rapids Xavier (7-0, 4-0) in the Valley. Friday's Cedar Falls-Xavier winner is the Valley Division champion, and West takes the Mississippi if it beats Cedar Rapids Jefferson or if Senior loses to Waterloo East. It's virtually assured that

Iowa City High, Waterloo East and

Cedar Rapids Prairie -- all 4-3 -- will qualify, and all will probably clinch playoff berths this week, regardless of outcome.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Waterloo West, Linn-Mar and

Cedar Rapids Washington (all 2-5) can play themselves in -- or out -- in the final two weeks.

CLASS 3A DISTRICT 5

Decorah (7-0, 4-0) needs one win in its final two games to win the title, and the Vikings are heavily favored to wrap it up with a win at Oelwein on Friday. The Week 8 winner between

West Delaware (5-2, 3-1) and

Crestwood (3-4, 3-1) wraps up a home-field first-round game. WD has clinched a playoff berth; Crestwood has not.

Western Dubuque (3-4, 2-2) and

Vinton-Shellsburg (3-4, 2-3) remain in playoff contention.

CLASS 3A DISTRICT 6

Marion (6-1, 4-0) has a playoff berth sewn up while

Solon (5-2, 3-1) and

DeWitt Central (4-3, 3-1) can clinch berths with wins Friday. Both still have district-title hopes. The Week 9 winner between

Clear Creek Amana and

Maquoketa (both 4-3, 2-2) likely snags the other spot.

CLASS 3A DISTRICT 7

Williamsburg (6-1, 5-0) has clinched the championship.

Washington (4-3, 3-1) is as good as in; the Demons face the bottom two teams in the final two weeks. Friday's winner between

Keokuk (3-4, 2-2) and

Mount Pleasant (2-5, 2-2) is in good shape, with

Fairfield (2-5, 2-3) still firmly in the mix.

CLASS 2A DISTRICT 3The champion could be determined Friday at LaPorte City, where

Union (6-1, 4-0) hosts

New Hampton (7-0, 4-0). If Union wins, the Knights are the champs. A New Hampton win probably would prolong the title chase to Week 9, when the Chickasaws travel to

Waukon (6-1, 3-1). Each of those three teams are in the playoffs. The other qualifier probably will be determined in Week 9, when

Central Springs (2-5, 2-3) hosts

Osage (3-4, 1-3).

CLASS 2A DISTRICT 4Three teams have qualified, and all still have title hopes.

Cascade (5-2, 4-0) hosts both of the other two contenders in the final two weeks -- against

Center Point-Urbana (6-1, 3-1) Friday, then against

Dyersville Beckman (6-1, 4-0) next week.

Mount Vernon (4-3, 2-2) is a qualifier if it wins at

Camanche (2-5, 1-4) this week.

CLASS 2A DISTRICT 5

Mediapolis (7-0, 4-0) is on its way to the championship while

West Liberty (4-3, 4-1) and

Mid-Prairie (5-2, 3-1) will haggle over the second spot (and a home date in Round 1) next week at Wellman.

Louisa-Muscatine (3-4, 2-2) can claim the other spot if it beats winless Central Lee on Friday at Donnellson.

CLASS 1A DISTRICT 4

South Winneshiek (6-1, 4-0) is on its way to the district title. The Warriors wrap it up if they beat MFL MarMac this week or Jesup next week.

Saint Ansgar (6-1, 3-1) is a qualifier, and

Sumner-Fredericksburg (5-2, 3-1) and

Denver (4-4, 3-2) are close to clinching, but both still have challenging remaining schedules.

North Fayette (3-4, 1-3) still has a sliver of hope.

CLASS 1A DISTRICT 5There is a lot yet to be determined here. This is sure:

Maquoketa Valley is the team with the ball in its court. If the Wildcats (6-1, 3-1) win out, they are district champions. If they lose at

Tipton (5-2, 3-1) on Friday, then

Clayton Ridge (5-2, 4-1) is the champion if it beats winless North Cedar at Stanwood.

Alburnett (3-4, 2-2),

Durant (2-5, 2-3) and

Bellevue (3-4, 1-3) are pursuing the final slot.

CLASS 1A DISTRICT 6The winner of 35 straight games,

Iowa City Regina (7-0, 4-0) takes the title if it runs the streak to 36 with a win at

Wapello (4-3, 2-2).

Wilton (5-2, 4-1) is qualifier, and

West Branch (4-3, 2-2) has an easy schedule the rest of the way and should nail down a berth.

Sigourney-Keota (3-4, 2-2) is a good bet to qualify if it wins at least one of its last two games.

CLASS A DISTRICT 3The title is on the line Friday at Fairbank, where

Wapsie Valley (7-0, 5-0) does battle with

Starmont (6-1, 5-0). Both teams are playoff qualifiers.

North Butler (4-3, 3-2) is sitting well if it can split or better in its last two games, and the Bearcats will be favored to win this week against Edgewood-Colesburg.

North Linn (3-4, 2-3),

Postville (2-5, 2-3) and

Turkey Valley (2-5, 2-3) are likely to chase the final berth. Turkey Valley hosts Postville this week in a pivotal game.

CLASS A DISTRICT 4A Week 9 showdown at Belle Plaine between

Belle Plaine (6-1, 4-0) and

North Tama (6-1, 4-0) determines the titlist. Both have qualified. It's a tricky three-team battle for the final two spots and it will come down to points if all finish 3-3, which is certainly possible. Right now,

Grundy Center (3-4, 3-2) and

Gladbrook-Reinbeck (3-4, 2-2) hold the edge over

Iowa Valley (5-3, 2-3), but the Spartans and the Rebels still have a game against the current co-leaders.

CLASS A DISTRICT 5If defending state champion

Lisbon (6-1, 5-0) can get past

Highland (5-2, 4-1) on Friday, it will set up a winner-take-all scenario for the Lions next week at

Lone Tree (5-2, 5-0). These three teams have qualified, and

WACO (5-2, 3-2) can join the party if it wins at home Friday against winless New London.

CLASS A DISTRICT 6All four qualifiers have been determined, and it's all about positioning now.

Montezuma (6-1, 5-0) holds the lead as of now, but still has rugged tests ahead against

BGM (5-2, 4-1) this week and

Lynnville-Sully (5-2, 4-1) in Week 9. BGM hosts

Pekin (6-1, 4-1) in its finale nest week.

EIGHT-MAN DISTRICT 4High-scoring

Preston (6-1, 6-0) is the leader and faces the bottom two teams in the final two weeks, so pencil the Trojans in as district champions. After that, it gets murky.

West Central (6-2, 5-1) will play a big role in determining the district's other three qualifiers. The Blue Devils host

Springville (6-1, 5-1) this week, then travel to

Lansing Kee (5-2, 4-2) in Week 9. With some help,

Midland (4-4, 4-3) can re-enter the mix with a Week 9 win over Springville.

EIGHT-MAN DISTRICT 5

HLV (7-0, 6-0) concludes its regular season Friday with a home date with

Wayne (6-1, 5-1). A win means a district title for the Warriors. Wayne and

Melcher-Dallas (6-1, 5-1) are in the playoffs, and the fourth spot will be determined next week at Bussey, where

Twin Cedars (3-4, 2-3) hosts

Tri-County (2-5, 2-3).