The final two nights of the regular season kickoff Thursday with most of the spots already decided for the football playoffs.
Xavier, Kennedy, Prairie and Washington all have wrapped up playoff berths.
Marion has a shot at making the playoffs, but needs some help.
Linn-Mar, Jefferson and Cedar Valley Christian will stay at home.
That's the simplified version. The rest of the story involves math and as I told the blackjack dealer in Vegas last week, "Too much math gives me a headache."
At the risk of temporary blindness, here we go with the rest of the story.
Washington and Xavier are playing for a division title. The Warriors clinch a tie for the Valley title with a win Thursday night over Dubuque Wahlert. That victory earns them the division's automatic bid by virtue of their win over Xavier three weeks ago, and a first-round home playoff game.
Xavier, on the other hand, will be playing for a top four seed and at least two home playoff games when it travels to Linn-Mar on Friday.
Kennedy clinches a first-round home playoff game with a win over Iowa City High. The Little Hawks, however, are playing for a possible top four seed when the teams meet Friday night at Kingston Stadium.
Prairie has an outside shot at a first-round home playoff date with a win at Waterloo West on Friday.
Now comes the hard part.
Marion hosts DeWitt Central on Friday. A win and a Clear Creek Amana loss puts the Indians in the playoffs. Marion can qualify with a win and a Clear Creek Amana win, or a loss and losses by Clear Creek Amana AND Benton, but now we're getting into point differentials and variables and -- I can't see! I can't see! I CAN'T SEE!
I'm back.
No such problems exist with Linn-Mar, Jefferson and Cedar Valley.
The Lions and J-Hawks can play spoilers. A Linn-Mar win probably puts Xavier on the road if the Saints win their first-round playoff game.
Jefferson can knock Senior out of the playoffs, although the Rams will be eliminated Thursday night if Hempstead is beaten by Cedar Falls and Muscatine beats Davenport West. I'm starting to see spots before my eyes!
The second season starts Wednesday. It's win or go home.
We can all see that.
Thursday
Wahlert (2-6, 0-5) at Washington (5-3, 4-1)
Site: Kingston Stadium
Time: 7:15 p.m. (approximately)
Sophomore game: 5 p.m.
Radio: KGYM (AM-1600), WMT (AM-600)
Television: KCRG 9.2 (Mediacom 109, Imon 709)
Last meeting: Washington 38, Wahlert 0 (Oct. 19, 2012)
Line: Washington by 17
Dubuque Wahlert - The Golden Eagles were thrashed by Waterloo West, 52-10, last Friday, despite 174 yards rushing by Riley Hasken. It was their fifth straight loss and they have been outscored 192-37 over that span. Hasken has rushed for 743 yards and 3 TDs. QB Danny Broderick has passed for 754 yards and 7 TDs. He has completed 46.9 percent of his passes (60 of 128). Jared Walker has 29 receptions for 530 yards and 5 TDs. PK Mitch Gaul is 11 of 12 on PAT kicks and 3 of 6 on FGs, with a long of 37. Wahlert's defense has forced 15 turnovers. The Golden Eagles are playing out the string.
Washington - The Warriors won their fifth straight game last Friday with a last-second TD pass to beat Prairie, 21-14. Washington trailed 14-6 at halftime, but scored 15 points in the fourth quarter to pull out the win. The Warriors largest margin of victory came in a 26-10 win over then-No.1 Xavier. The other four games have seen wins of 5, 1, 7 and 7 points. QB Reid Snitker has run for 387 yards and 8 TDs the past five weeks, and also has thrown 7 TD passes. Snitker is completing 61.5 percent of his passes (99 of 161) for 1,172 yards and 9 TDs, but also has thrown 11 interceptions. He also has run for a team-high 442 yards and 8 TDs. RB Mason Taylor has 327 yards rushing. Landon Akers has 26 receptions for 375 yards and 2 TDs. Clayton Bjornsen has caught 22 passes for 233 yards and 3 TDs. Isaiah Nimmers has 25 receptions for 264 yards. PK Gunnar Lenzen is 7 of 14 on PAT kicks, 2-of-4 on FGs. Connor Vincent has 82 tackles, Jake Bjornsen 72. The Warriors have forced 13 turnovers. Washington totaled only 25 points in its first three games, but has 115 in its last five outings.
Friday
Xavier (7-1, 4-1) at Linn-Mar (2-6, 2-3)
Site: Linn-Mar Stadium
Time: 7:15 p.m. (approximately)
Sophomore game: 5 p.m.
Radio: KMRY (AM-1450/FM-93.1), KGYM (AM-1600)
Television: KCRG 9.2 (Mediacom 109, Imon 709)
Last meeting: Xavier 42, Linn-Mar 6 (Oct. 19, 2012)
Line: Xavier by 13
Xavier - The Saints held off Cedar Falls, 14-0, last Friday night. QB Quinton Scholer toughed through the game on a gimpy ankle and led the Saints to a pair of fourth quarter TDs. RB Brendan Miller ran the ball 31 times for 96 yards. Scholer has completed 65.7 percent of his passes (65 of 99) for 742 yards and 10 TDs. He had been equally dangerous with his feet, rushing for 332 yards and 5 TDs. Miller leads the team with 847 rushing yards and 9 TDs. WR Bryce Grimm has 18 receptions for 213 yards and 2 TDs. Frank Hill has 15 receptions for 223 yards. TE Matt Nelson has 8 receptions, but 4 have scored TDs. PK Ryan Persick is 29 of 30 on PAT kicks and 5-of-9 on FGs. Nic Ekland has 37 tackles. Daniel Vega has 30 tackles, including 14 solos for losses. Nelson has 24 tackles, 7 solos for losses.
Linn-Mar - The Lions were beaten by Iowa City High, 42-28, last Friday at Iowa City. The Lions trailed by 35-28 in the fourth quarter before falling. City High had 536 yards of rushing offense and 6 TDs. Linn-Mar has struggled to defend the run all season, allowing nearly 345 yards per game. Teams also are scoring nearly 42 points per game against the Lions. QB Ryan Schmidt has completed 56.5 percent of his passes (108 of 191) for 1,728 yards and 12 TDs. He has thrown 8 interceptions. RB Ross Lembeck has rushed for 584 yards and 9 TDs. Sprinter Perrion Scott has played in only five games because of leg injuries and has 105 yards. Logan Benter has rushed for 192 yards and is averaging 10.1 yards per carry. WR Griffin Bennecke has 23 receptions for 654 yards, a whopping 28.4 yards per catch, and 8 TDs. PK Austin Wolter is 32 of 33 on PAT kicks and 2-for-3 on FGs. Benter has a team-high 81 tackles. The Lions' season ends with this game.
IC High (7-1, 5-0) at Kennedy (5-3, 3-2)
Site: Kingston Stadium
Time: 7:15 p.m. (approximately)
Sophomore game: 5 p.m.
Radio: KGYM (FM-107.5/FM-106.3)
Last meeting: Kennedy 40, Iowa City High 14 (Oct. 19, 2012)
Line: Iowa City High by 3
Iowa City High - The Little Hawks rolled up 536 yards of rushing offense in a 42-28 win over Linn-Mar last Friday. Xavier Washpun ran for 311 yards and 2 TDs. The Little Hawks have won seven straight games since a season-opening 14-13 loss to Cedar Falls. Washpun has rushed for 1,472 yards and 16 TDs. QB Mitch Wieland has 246 rushing yards. He also has completed 57 of 112 passes for 780 yards and 5 TDs. Jake Leohr has 16 receptions for 313 yards, Cory Lindsey 14 for 206 and 4 TDs. PK Drew Cornwell is 31 of 35 on PAT kicks and 4 of 8 on FGs with a long of 40. Ivan Diaz has 66 tackles.
Kennedy - The Cougars were stunned by Dubuque Hempstead, 30-27, last Friday at Dubuque, despite rushing for 355 yards. QB Derek Jacobus ran for 194 yards and RB Miles Moa 151. Moa has rushed for 825 yards, Logan Wedo 359 and Terrance Hall 253. Jacobus has run for 336 yards, and also has completed 49.5 percent of his passes (48 of 97) for 541 yards and 5 TDs. TE Drew Heitland has 19 receptions for 277 yards and 3 TDs. PK Mark Schulz is 21 of 24 on PAT kicks. He has not attempted a FG. Jordan Lunsford has 70 tackles, Triston Christopher 67 and Prince Kollie 61.
Jefferson (1-7, 1-4) at Dubuque Senior (3-5, 2-3)
Site: Dalzell Field, Dubuque
Time: 7:15 p.m. (approximately)
Sophomore game: 5 p.m.
Radio: None
Last meeting: Dubuque Senior 42, Jefferson 0 (Oct. 19, 2012)
Line: Senior by 7
Jefferson - The J-Hawks were clubbed by Iowa City West, 47-7, last Friday night. Jefferson allowed 268 yards and 5 TDs rushing. The J-Hawks gained 256 yards, but had three turnovers and 10 penalties. QB Layne Sullivan leads the team in rushing with 508 yards and 4 TDs. RB Michael Moncivais has 188 yards. Ben Koering has 15 receptions for 256 yards, and also has 20 carries for 166. Sullivan has completed 46.4 percent of his passes (78 of 168) for 1,076 yards and 6 TDs. He also has thrown 8 interceptions. Highly regarded two-way lineman Michael Smith has 52 tackles, LB Will Orr 51. PK Nick Rocha is 10 of 10 on PAT kicks, and 6 of 10 on FGs with a long of 46. Key mistakes have kept the improved J-Hawks from making the step up to winning. This is their last chance.
Dubuque Senior - The Rams knocked off winless Waterloo East, 35-9, last week to keep their playoff hopes alive. They need a win against Jefferson to have a chance to make the playoffs for a second straight season. RB Parker Hammel has run for 817 yards and 9 TDs. Mike Williams has 393 rushing yards, Lee Bonifas 301. QB Austin Clemens has completed 49 of 102 passes for 554 yards and 5 TDs. Nick Hoftender is the leading receiver with 16 catches for 148 yards. PK Jack Kloft is 18 of 19 on PAT kicks and 1 of 5 on FGs with a long of 32. Brook Anderson has 84 tackles.
Prairie (4-4, 3-2) at Waterloo West (4-4, 2-3)
Site: Memorial Stadium, Waterloo
Time: 7:15 p.m. (approximately)
Sophomore game: 5 p.m.
Radio: None
Last meeting: Prairie 31, Waterloo West 7 (Oct. 19, 2012)
Line: Prairie by 2
Prairie - The Hawks were stunned by Washington, 21-14, last Friday night when the Warriors scored 15 points in the fourth quarter, including the winning TD pass with 9 seconds left in the game. Prairie had won its previous three games. Mitch Christensen has rushed for 973 yards and 8 TDs. He is averaging 5.7 yards per carry. QB Trey Beckman has rushed for 348 yards and 7 TDs, but is completing only 43.2 percent of his passes (63 of 146) and has thrown 6 TD passes and 8 interceptions. WR Jesse Vizzini has 20 receptions for 234 yards. LB Tristan Beyer is a force on defense with 57 tackles. Ben Boldt leads the team with 70 stops. PK Sam Drysdale is 23 of 24 on PAT kicks and 3-of-4 on FGs with a long of 50 yards.
Waterloo West - The Wahawks whipped Wahlert, 52-10, last Friday. QB Alex Young, who was carted off the field the previous week in a loss to Xavier, ran for 204 yards and 2 TDs. RB Lance Dunn ran for 232 yards and 3 TDs. Young leads the team in rushing with 1,034 yards and 14 TDs. Dunn has rushed for 890 yards and 8 TDs. The Wahawks rarely throw. Young has completed 22 of 52 passes for 316 yards and 4 TDs. Trey Burt is the leading receiver with 11 catches for 121 yards. PK Kedo Osmancevic is 16 of 25 on PAT kicks, 2 of 2 on FGs. Blake Thomas has 85 tackles. Dunn has 3 interceptions. West has clinched a playoff berth.
DeWitt Central (4-4, 3-2) at Marion (3-5, 2-3)
Site: Thomas Park
Time: 7 p.m. (approximately)
Sophomore game: 5 p.m.
Radio: None
Last meeting: DeWitt Central 28, Marion 13 (Oct. 29, 2012)
Line: DeWitt Central by 13
DeWitt Central - The Sabers thrashed Anamosa 48-14 last Friday when they ran for 309 yards. RBs Tyler Stillmunkes and Jake Feldpausch have each rushed for 652 yards and 7 TDs. Jake Kagamann has 267 yards. The Sabers have used three QBs. Marty Green has rushed for 238 yards and passed for 248. He has thrown 5 interceptions. Jesse Brackey has rushed for 212 yards and passed for 428. Logan Sheppard has thrown only 10 passes, but completed 8, including 2 for TDs. Emmitt Enyeart has 14 receptions for 271 yards and 4 TDs, Feldpausch 14 for 228. Enyeart has 4 interceptions. PK Keegan Lass is 28 of 30 on PAT kicks and 2 of 3 on FGs. The Sabers had to forfeit two early season games for using an ineligible player. One was a district win over Maquoketa. A win puts the Sabers in the playoffs, and they also qualify if they lose and Clear Creek Amana loses.
Marion - The Indians were surprised by Clear Creek Amana in a 21-7 loss last Friday. Kory Walsh ran for 101 yards and a TD. The Indians have lost four of their last five games, and they were beaten twice by DeWitt Central a year ago. QB Trevor Hardman has completed 47.6 percent of his passes (60 of 126) for 932 yards and 8 TDs. The rushing game has been decimated by injury. RB Colton Mowry has rushed for 284 yards. He had 162 and two TDs against Mount Pleasant in the opener, but also suffered a knee injury that has slowed him. John Carstensen has rushed for 222 yards, and Walsh and Logan Fuller 201. WR Quinn Cannoy has 29 receptions for 555 yards and 7 TDs. Fuller has 23 receptions for 309 yards. PK Ben Kroemer is 17 of 19 on PAT kicks and 1 for 2 on FGs. Jordan Keeton has a team-high 41 tackles. A win and a Clear Creek Amana loss clinches a playoff berth for the Indians. The Indians can lose and get in if Clear Creek Amana and Benton both lose, and if Marion's playoff point total is larger than CCA's. The Clippers lead the Indians by 6 playoff points.
Cedar Valley (0-7, 0-6) at Easton Valley (4-3, 4-2)
Site: Preston
Time: 7 p.m.
Radio: None
Last meeting: Preston 78, Cedar Valley 14 (Oct. 19, 2012)
Line: No line
Cedar Valley - The Huskies have been outscored 489-100 in their seven games, most recently a 70-36 loss at Elkader Central last Friday. Kenan Ulmer ran for 140 yards and 2 TDs and also threw 2 TD passes. Ulmer leads the Huskies in rushing with 326 yards and 6 TDs. He also has thrown for 566 yards, completing 29 of 99 passes. He has been intercepted 11 times. Caleb Severson is the leading receiver with 12 receptions for 302 yards and 5 TDs. Eric Gustafson has 8 catches for 150 yards, Tom Scroggs 6 for 95 and 2 TDs. Gustafson has a team-high 76 tackles and also has recovered 3 fumbles. The Huskies are still searching for their first win.
Easton Valley - The River Hawks are in their first year after the merging of the Preston and East Central school systems. They are coming off a 61-18 drubbing of Central City that snapped a three-game losing streak. Andrew Driscoll has rushed for more than 1,000 yards and Craiton Andresen has passed for more than 750. Top receiver is Chase Zaruba with 9 TD catches. The River Hawks have clinched a playoff berth.
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