Substate football situation, Week 9

So here's where we're at as we head to Week 9:

CLASS 4A EASTTwelve of 16 berths have been determined, including two league champions.

Iowa City High (8-0) has clinched the MVC Mississippi Division title while

Clinton (8-0) is the Mississippi Athletic Conference champion.

Linn-Mar (7-1) can win the MVC Valley Division crown if it defeats Iowa City West.Other qualifiers, in current order, are

Bettendorf (7-1),

Cedar Rapids Washington (6-2),

Dubuque Hempstead (6-2),

Cedar Falls (6-2),

Cedar Rapids Xavier (6-2),

Pleasant Valley (5-3),

Davenport Assumption (5-3),

North Scott (5-3) and 

Davenport Central (4-4).Four teams --

Burlington, Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Iowa City West and

Cedar Rapids Prairie -- are 3-5 and wrap up a spot with a win. All have an opportunity to advance with a loss.

CLASS 3A DISTRICT 3All four berths have been determined, and the champion will be crowned when

New Hampton (6-2, 6-0) hosts

Oelwein (5-3, 5-1).

Decorah (6-2, 4-2) and

West Delaware (6-2, 4-2) also are postseason-bound.

CLASS 3A DISTRICT 4

Marion (8-0, 6-0) is the champion, and 

Maquoketa (7-1, 5-1) has wrapped up a berth. 

Union (6-2, 4-2) is next in line and finishes second if it defeats Maquoketa Friday.

Benton Community (4-4, 3-3) holds the tie-breaker on

DeWitt Central (5-3, 3-3) if they finish in a two-way tie, but Benton hosts Marion this week.

Vinton-Shellsburg (3-5, 2-4) is still in it; the Vikings get the fourth bid if it defeats Central and if Benton loses.

CLASS 3A DISTRICT 5

Williamsburg (7-1, 6-0) and 

Clear Creek Amana (6-2, 5-1) play for the title Friday at Williamsburg. Both teams have wrapped up berths, as has

Fairfield (6-2, 4-2).

Mount Pleasant (5-3, 4-2) is in it is defeats Fairfield; a Fairfield win would give

Washington (4-4, 3-3) an opportunity to qualify if it defeats Fort Madison.

CLASS 2A DISTRICT 4

North Fayette (8-0, 6-0), 

Cascade (7-1, 5-1) and

Sumner-Fredericksburg (6-2, 4-2) are assured substate berths, and

Dyersville Beckman (3-5, 3-3) claims the fourth spot if it beats MFL MarMac. If not, the door opens for 

Monticello (5-3, 3-3), which hosts Cascade.

CLASS 2A DISTRICT 5It's pretty cut-and-dried. Three teams are in: 

Solon (8-0, 6-0) is the champion and the winner between

Iowa City Regina (7-1, 5-1) and

Center Point-Urbana (6-2, 5-1) finishes second. The fourth berth will go to

North Cedar (4-4, 3-3),

Wilton (4-4, 3-3), which play at Stanwood.

CLASS 2A DISTRICT 6

Davis County (7-1, 6-0) is the champion while 

Mid-Prairie (6-2, 5-1) and

West Burlington-Notre Dame (6-2, 5-1) play for second place Friday.

Mediapolis (5-3, 3-3) can wrap up the fourth slot -- and a substate date at Solon -- if it beats Louisa-Muscatine or if

Sigourney-Keota (4-4, 3-3) loses to Davis County.

CLASS 1A DISTRICT 3

South Winneshiek (8-0, 6-0), 

Denver (7-1, 5-1) and

Turkey Valley (7-1, 5-1) have qualified, though the order hinges on Friday's game between South Winn and Turkey Valley at Jackson Junction.

Gladbrook-Reinbeck (4-4, 3-3) grabs the fourth spot if it defeats Grundy Center and/or if

Aplington-Parkersburg (5-3, 3-3) falls to Denver.

CLASS 1A DISTRICT 4The order of the first three is set.

Clayton Ridge (7-1, 6-0) is the champion,

Northeast (6-2, 5-1) the runner-up and 

Starmont (5-3, 4-2) the third-place team.

Bellevue (5-3, 3-3) snags the last spot unless it loses to Alburnett and

North Linn (4-4, 3-3) beats Clayton Ridge.

CLASS 1A DISTRICT 5

West Branch (8-0, 6-0) has wrapped up the district crown and

Eddyville-Blakesburg (6-2, 5-1) has claimed a postseason berth. 

Belle Plaine (6-2, 4-2), which plays Eddyville-Blakesburg this week, is next in line, with

Wapello (5-3, 3-3) and 

Pekin (3-4, 2-3) in pursuit and favored to beat Iowa Valley and Durant, respectively. If it comes down to a three-way tie for third, Belle Plaine has a tie-break score of plus-22, Pekin plus-4 and Wapello zero.

CLASS A DISTRICT 4

Wapsie Valley (7-1, 6-0) and

Elkader Central (7-1, 5-1) are the champion and runner-up, respectively.

Postville (4-4, 3-3) plays at

East Buchanan (5-3, 4-2) in a pivotal game while 

Lisbon (5-3, 4-2) travels to Elkader. In case of a three-way tie for third, Lisbon's tie-break score is 38, EB plus-2, Postville zero. That scenario would give Lisbon the third spot, Postville the fourth.

CLASS A DISTRICT 5This is not a strong district by any means, but it is entertaining in deciphering the possibilities.

WACO (5-3, 5-0) is the district champion, 

Danville (4-4, 4-1) the runner-up. The winner between

Cardinal (4-4, 2-3) and

Highland (2-6, 2-3) is assured a berth.

Lone Tree (3-5, 2-3) wraps up a berth if it upsets WACO. If not, the Cardinal-Highland loser is back in play, as are

New London (2-6, 2-4) and possibly

Winfield-Mount Union (2-6, 1-4), if it upsets Danville.

CLASS A DISTRICT 6The four teams are locked up; it's just a matter of order --

North Tama

(8-0, 5-0) appears to have the title locked up, regardless of outcome with its game with 

North Mahaska (7-1, 4-1). 

BGM (7-1, 4-1) and 

HLV (4-4, 3-3) also will be playing next Wednesday.

8-MAN DISTRICT 4

Preston (8-0, 6-0) is the champion, while 

Lansing Kee (6-2, 5-1) faces 

West Central (7-1, 5-1) meet with second and third place on the line. 

Dunkerton (5-3, 3-3) is penciled in for the fourth spot.