Sorting out the playoff picture

Here's how the football playoff picture looks for area teams at we hit the final week:

CLASS 4A: MVC & MAC

The final touches on the 16-team east-side field could be determined Thursday, provided Muscatine (4-4) wins at Davenport West.

Friday, that would be purely for seeding and securing home field.The likelihood is a 9-7 MVC-MAC split, with two MAC teams -- Pleasant Valley (8-0) and Davenport Assumption (7-1) projected to snag the top two seeds. Those two teams have nailed down home field for Round 1. So have Iowa City West (7-1), Cedar Rapids Xavier (7-1) and Iowa City High (7-1).

The other three home-field teams would be Bettendorf (6-2), Cedar Rapids Kennedy (5-3) and Cedar Rapids Washington (5-3) if they win. Bettendorf and Washington are favored to do so, while Kennedy hosts City High. If one of those teams stumble, Cedar Falls (5-3) would be the next team in line.

If Muscatine wins Thursday, the rest of the field would consist of the Muskies, Cedar Rapids Prairie, North Scott, Dubuque Hempstead, Clinton, Davenport Central and Waterloo West. All are currently 4-4. Dubuque Senior (3-5) still has hope, but it's thread-thin.

CLASS 3A DISTRICT 5

All four berths are taken care of. Decorah (8-0, 5-0) is the champion while West Delaware (7-1, 4-1) is the runner-up. Assuming a Decorah win over Western Dubuque (4-4, 3-2), Crestwood (4-4, 3-2) is No. 3, Western Dubuque No. 4.

CLASS 3A DISTRICT 6

The top two are Solon (7-1, 5-0) and Maquoketa (5-3, 4-1). DeWitt Central (4-4, 3-2) can make life easy on itself by winning at Marion (3-5, 2-3). If so, it very well might force a three-way tie-breaker for the fourth spot: Clear Creek Amana (4-4, 2-3) and Benton Community (2-6, 2-3) also have uphill battles. In that event, CCA currently holds the advantage by six points over Marion, 12 over Benton.

CLASS 3A DISTRICT 7

Washington (7-1, 5-0) is the champion and Williamsburg (6-2, 4-1) will finish second. Centerville (4-4, 3-2) has wrapped up a spot. Fairfield (4-4, 3-3) currently holds the fourth bid, but can be passed by Keokuk (3-5, 2-3) if -- and only if -- the Chiefs beat Fort Madison and Centerville upsets Washington.

CLASS 2A DISTRICT 3

Top-ranked Waukon (8-0, 5-0) and New Hampton (8-0, 5-0) decide the district championship at New Hampton. Hampton-Dumont (5-3, 3-3) has a non-conference game, and likely will finish in a three-way tie with Union (4-4, 2-3, at Waterloo Columbus) and Osage (2-6, 2-3, at Central Springs). Because of the current tie-break point totals (Hampton-Dumont plus-5, Union minus-6, Osage minus-25). Hampton-Dumont is in. Union is in with a win, and Osage needs a win and a Union loss.

CLASS 2A DISTRICT 4

Two big games are on tap Friday. Cascade (7-1, 5-0) travels to surging Dyersville Beckman (6-2, 4-1) for the championship, while Center Point-Urbana (4-4, 2-3) goes to Mount Vernon (4-4, 3-2) with the fourth bid on the line. Monticello (5-3, 3-2) is at Northeast, and would fit snugly in third should it win.

CLASS 2A DISTRICT 5

All four bids are secure. Mediapolis (8-0, 5-0) is the champion and closes at fourth-place Louisa-Muscatine (5-3, 3-2). Mid-Prairie (6-2, 4-1) and West Liberty (4-4, 4-1) will haggle over the second spot at West Liberty.

CLASS 1A DISTRICT 4

North Fayette Valley (8-0, 5-0) is the champion in its first year as a combined program. The TigerHawks close at Sumner-Fredericksburg (5-3, 3-2) in one of two key games. The other is Denver (3-6, 2-3) at Saint Ansgar (6-2, 3-2). South Winneshiek (6-2, 4-1) owns the second spot and home field for the first round.

CLASS 1A DISTRICT 5

Last week's wins by Maquoketa Valley (8-0, 5-0) -- the district champion -- and runner-up Clayton Ridge (7-1, 5-1) have cleared things considerably. If Tipton (4-4, 3-2) defeats Alburnett (4-4, 2-3), it's simple: Tipton is third; North Cedar (5-3, 3-2) is fourth. If Alburnett wins by 11 or more, the Pirates replace Tipton and bump North Cedar to third. If North Cedar beats Maquoketa Valley, Alburnett can surpass Tipton with any sized victory.

CLASS 1A DISTRICT 6

This is simple. Iowa City Regina (8-0, 5-0), Wilton (7-1, 4-1) and Eddyville EBF (6-2, 4-2) are first, second and third. West Branch (5-3, 2-3) earns the final bid with a win over last-place Cardinal and/or a loss by Sigourney-Keota (5-3, 2-3) against Regina.

CLASS A DISTRICT 3

Defending state champ Wapsie Valley (8-0, 6-0) wears the district crown, and Turkey Valley (5-3, 5-1) has locked up the second bid. Starmont and Postville (both 4-4, 4-2) have wrapped up the next two spots. Starmont has the tie-breaker over Postville for No. 3, and has the easier game Friday, traveling to East Buchanan.

CLASS A DISTRICT 4

Three teams have clinched bids, led by champion Gladbrook-Reinbeck (6-2, 5-0). Grundy Center (6-3, 5-1) is idle and can sit back and enjoy its second-place finish. Conrad BCLUW (4-4, 3-2) has sewn up a bid; Belle Plaine (3-5, 2-3) has the inside track for the last spot if the Plainsmen take care of North Tama (1-7, 1-4). If not, Garwin GMG (4-4, 2-3) can qualify by upsetting Gladbrook-Reinbeck.

CLASS A DISTRICT 5

Lisbon (6-2, 6-0) and Lone Tree (6-2, 5-1) battle for the district crown at Lisbon. After that, it gets sticky. WACO (4-4, 4-2) could get a home date with a win and a Lone Tree loss. On the other hand, it could miss the playoffs altogether if it is beaten by Highland (4-4, 3-3) and if Van Buren (4-4, 3-3) handles Danville.

CLASS A DISTRICT 6

Easy peezy. Top-ranked BGM (8-0, 6-0) and Pekin (7-1, 6-0) fight for the championship at Packwood while Montezuma (6-2, 4-2) hosts Lynnville-Sully (4-4, 4-2) with third place on the line. All four are in the playoffs.

8-MAN DISTRICT 4

Springville (8-0, 6-0) is the champion and goes for a perfect regular season at Midland. The other bids have been secured by Lansing Kee (5-3, 5-1), Easton Valley (4-3, 4-2) and Elkader Central (5-4, 4-3).

8-MAN DISTRICT 5HLV (7-2, 6-0) can win its second straight district title since moving to the eight-man game if it wins at Wayne (6-2, 5-1). Twin Cedars (8-1, 5-1) and Wayne are playoff-bound. The fourth spot goes to the winner between Meskwaki Settlement (4-4, 3-3) and Melcher-Dallas (4-3, 3-3). Meskwaki has won four straight games after an 0-4 start.