I feel like a Tommy Roe song.

I've been trying to figure out all the permutations for the high school football playoffs and I'm dizzy.

My head is spinning.

I'm so dizzy.

Anyway, here's what we have figured out heading into Friday's regular season finales.

We know Xavier, Marion and Prairie have clinched berths.

We know Kennedy and Linn-Mar are still alive for berths.

And we know Jefferson, Washington and Cedar Valley Christian have been eliminated.

Here's what else we know:

-- Marion will clinch first place in Class 3A Division 6 with a win at DeWitt Central. A loss and the Indians can finish no worse than the No. 2 seed.

-- Xavier appears to be headed for the No. 3 seed in Class 4A. The Saints (8-0) can nab the top spot by beating Linn-Mar (3-5) and by Burlington (3-5) beating Pleasant Valley (8-0) and Waterloo East (5-3) beating Iowa City West (8-0). If the Saints win and either Pleasant Valley or Iowa City West lose, Xavier is No. 2.

-- There are seven teams vying for the final five berths in Class 4A: Davenport Central (4-4), Iowa City High (4-4), Waterloo West (3-5), Kennedy (3-5), Burlington (3-5), Linn-Mar (3-5) and Clinton (2-6).

-- Linn-Mar is in with a win over Xavier. A loss puts the Lions in the position of needing Waterloo West to beat Prairie and Iowa City High to beat Kennedy; OR North Scott to beat Davenport Central, Pleasant Valley to beat Burlington and Bettendorf to beat Clinton OR North Scott to beat Davenport Central, Bettendorf to beat Clinton and Pleasant Valley to beat Burlington. Linn-Mar holds the tiebreaker in a head-to-head tie with all teams it can tie with except Waterloo West. A multi-way tie involving Waterloo West knocks out the Lions on the first tiebreaker.

-- Kennedy is in with a win over Iowa City High. The Cougars also are in with a loss if Prairie beats Waterloo West, North Scott beats Davenport Central and two of the following three happen: Bettendorf beats Clinton, Pleasant Valley beats Burlington or Xavier beats Linn-Mar.  The Cougars also are in if they lose if North Scott wins and Burlington loses OR if Davenport Central wins, Burlington loses and Clinton loses.

And now we're all dizzy.

 

Linn-Mar (3-5, 2-3) at No. 3 Xavier (8-0, 5-0)

Site: Saints Field

Time: 7:15 p.m. (approximately)

Sophomore game: 5 p.m.

Radio: KMRY (AM-1450, FM-93.7)

Storyline - Xavier is playing for a possible No. 1 seed in the playoffs. A loss could drop the Saints to the No. 4 spot. Linn-Mar is playing to get into the playoffs. A loss and the likely outcome is a spot at the fire sipping hot chocolate. Linn-Mar beat Xavier last season en route to a perfect regular season. A win over the Lions on Friday completes an undefeated regular season for the Saints. We're picking the latter to happen.

Linn-Mar - The Lions used four turnovers to beat Iowa City High, 33-20, last Friday. They scored on a fumble return and kickoff return. It was Linn-Mar's third win in five games and puts them in position to claim a playoff berth. Ross Lembeck ran for 93 yards against the Little Hawks. Austin Burbridge had 16 tackles. Season leaders - Rushing: Lembeck 107-668 4 TDs, Rhys Davis 144-598 9 TDs; Passing: Davis 62-134-5-666 6 TDs; Receiving: Zach Martins 14-175 3 TDs; Tackles: Lucas Meyer 73, Dakota Digmann 57 (13 for loss); PATs: Austin Wolter 23-23; FGs: Wolter 4-8 (long 47).

 

Xavier - The Saints whipped then No. 2 Cedar Falls, 24-7, last Friday night. Reggie Schulte threw two TD passes and Wes Gardner ran for 115 yards and a TD, the fourth Saints back to rush for more than 100 yards in a game. Schulte leads the state in completion percentage (74.6)  and  is third in Class 4A in TD passes (26). Season leaders - Rushing: Brendan Miller 94-602 5 TDs, Gardner 28-176 1 TD; Passing: Schulte 94-126-3-1421 26 TDs; Receiving: Corbin Woods 33-643 11 TDs, Matt Nelson 9-87 6 TDs; Tackles: Craig Murtha 51 (24 for loss); PATs: Ryan Persick 45-46; FGs: Persick 4-7.

 

Dubuque Senior (6-2, 3-2) at Jefferson (1-7, 1-4)

Site: Kingston Stadium

Time: 7:15 p.m. (approximately)

Sophomore game: 5 p.m.

Radio: None

Storyline - Jefferson welcomes back the 1972 state championship team with a halftime ceremony. That is the only championship team in Jefferson's football history. But first-year coach Brian Webb has gone about crafting a new future for the J-Hawks, who snapped a 24-game losing streak earlier this season by beating Hempstead. The team Jefferson beat before the skid started? Dubuque Senior, 20-13, on Sept. 25, 2009. That also was the last meeting of these schools. But this is a pretty good Senior club, playing to keep home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Give the edge to the Rams.

Dubuque Senior - The Rams lost for only the second time this season when they were beaten by Waterloo East last Friday, 31-21. Alex Duster ran for 110 yards, Austin Clemens passed for 139 yards and Keegan Gallery caught seven passes for 90 yards. Season leaders - Rushing: Duster 180-805 7 TDs, Parker Hammel 55-234 6 TDs; Passing: Clemens 109-171-3-1240 11 TDs; Receiving: Gallery 55-663 5 TDs, Ethan Lembke 13-138 1 TD, Brandon Richey 12-119 1 TD; Tackles: Streat Hoerner 118, Brook Anderson 92; INT: Hoerner 4; PATs: Ben Martin 22-23; FGs: Martin 2-3 (long 25).

 

Jefferson - The J-Hawks were flattened by No. 2 Iowa City West, 71-14, last Friday. Blake Bernauer caught two TD passes, one from Layne Sullivan and another from Michael Moncivais. They were the J-Hawks first two scoring passes of the season. Season leaders - Rushing: Moncivais 63-251, Sullivan 92-150 6 TDs, Nick O'Connell 60-124 3 TDs; Passing: Sullivan 62-134-4-758; Receiving: Hunter Kloubec 15-128, Bernauer 10-186 2 TDs, Brandon Wiederin 10-164, Peter Watson 9-102; Tackles: Drake Allen 51; PATs: Nick Rocha 8-8; FGs: Rocha 1-1 (long 30).

 

Waterloo West (3-5, 3-2) at Prairie (5-3, 3-2)

Site: John Wall Field

Time: 7:15 p.m. (approximately)

Sophomore game: 5 p.m.

Radio: KGYM (AM-1600, FM-107.5)

Storyline - Waterloo West needs a win to get into the playoffs, while Prairie is playing to improve or at least maintain its seed. The Hawks enter the game as the likely No. 10 seed and are looking at a date at Dubuque Senior in next Wednesday's playoff opener. A loss could drop the Hawks as low as a No. 13 seed with a likely trip to Cedar Falls looming. Waterloo West can still get in with a Prairie win, but you have to check the calculus of the above intro to figure out how. And even that may not be enough. Prairie wins.

Waterloo West - The Wahawks thumped Wahlert, 40-0, last Friday to end a two-game skid. Lance Dunn ran for 240 yards and three TDs, and Alex Young ran for 104 yards and a TD. Dunn also scored on an interception return.Season leaders - Rushing: Dunn 95-726 12 TDs, Young 115-573 5 TDs, Dequayvious Martin 59-509 3 TDs; Passing: Young 39-78-3-414 2 TDs; Receiving: Jacob Showalter 14-129, Martin 6-156 3 TDs; Tackles: Blake Thomas 80 (13 for loss), Kyler Mathews 56 (12 for loss); PATs: Skyler Capelle 17-24; FGs: Capelle 3-5 (long 36).

 

Prairie - The Hawks thrashed Washingtton, 44-6, last Thursday. Mitch Dellamuth and Kentrel Smith both caught TD passes and returned interceptions for TDs. Jace Hanna threw three TD passes. Jarred Edmonds leads Class 4A in TD receptions (14) and is third in receiving yards (951).  Season leaders - Rushing: Mitch Christensen 66-317 3 TDs, Hanna 51-218 2 TDs; Passing: Hanna 96-158-5-1694 22 TDs; Receiving: Demetrius Harper 39-405 5 TDs, Edmonds 37-951 14 TDs; Tackles: Cam Rathje 105; INT: Dellamuth 5; PATs: Sam Drysdale 35-38; FGs: Drysdale 2-3 (long 34).

 

Kennedy (3-5, 3-2) at Iowa City High (4-4, 3-2)

Site: Frank Bates Field, Iowa City

Time: 7:15 p.m. (approximately)

Sophomore game: 5 p.m.

Radio: None

Storyline - This is the key game for several teams on the East side of the state. How much of an impact can this game have? If Kennedy hands Iowa City High its fourth straight loss, it is mathematically possible for the Little Hawks to miss the playoffs. Kennedy has the hot hand, and City High has been crippled by injuries and turnovers. This game is too close to call.

Kennedy - The Cougars recorded their third straight win, hammering Hempstead, 48-7, last Friday. Alex Hillyer ran for 220 yards and four TDs. Kennedy had 284 yards rushing and completed its only pass. Hillyer is third among Class 4A rushers with 1,202 yards and is tied for third with 13 rushing TDs. Season leaders - Rushing: Hillyer 200-1202 13 TDs, Miles Moa 31-144; Passing: Riley Fergus 44-102-524 8 TDs; Receiving: Jacob Frazier-Flores 10-204 4 TDs, Patrick Martin 9-134 2 TDs; Tackles: Grant Miller 61; PATs: Eric Bertroche 22-24; FGs: Bertroche 4-5 (long 38).

 

Iowa City High - The Little Hawks turned the ball over four times in a 33-20 loss at Linn-Mar last Friday. City High ran for 251 yards, led by Bryson Runge's 132 yards, but completed only 3 of 12 passes for 33 yards. Season leaders - Rushing: Amos Lavela 103-605 8 TDs, Xavier Washpun 73-380 6 TDs, Runge 56-365 1 TD; Passing: Mitch Wieland 21-37-3-246 2 TDs, Tyler Stika 15-38-5-184 2 TDs, Jake Leohr 9-21-1-174 3 TDs; Receiving: Tony Perry 12-187 1 TD, Washpun 6-115 2 TDs; Tackles: Tyler Hill 35; PATs: Drew Cornwell 22-23; FGs: Cornwell 2-2 (long 21).

 

Washington (2-6, 0-5) at Wahlert (1-7, 0-5)

Site: Rock Bowl (Loras College) Dubuque

Time: 7:15 p.m. (approximately)

Sophomore game: 5 p.m.

Radio: None

Storyline - The only thing on the line for Washington in this game is pride. For injury-riddled Wahlert, it's another game of survival. The Warriors will be without Coach Tony Lombardi, who was suspended for this game after an incident in last Thursday's game against Prairie. Wahlert is without its top two quarterbacks and rushers. Advantage Washington.

Washington - The Warriors were planted by Prairie, 44-6, last Thursday. Mitch Bredeson ran for 119 yards and Washington quarterbacks Mitch Blades and Reagan Wilson combined to throw five interceptions. Blades ran for 33 yards. Wilson threw a TD pass. Season leaders - Rushing: Bredeson 174-716 7 TDs, Blades 90-336 7 TDs; Passing: Blades 81-175-12-1187 6 TDs, Wilson 6-11-3-87 1 TD; Receiving: Jason Oney 45-636 6 TDs, Clayton Bjornsen 17-179, Noah Dostal 14-257 1 TD; Tackles: Jake Bjornsen 73 (8 for loss); PATs: Riyad Ajram 19-22; FGs: Ajram 3-4 (long 42).

 

Wahlert - The Golden Eagles were squashed by Waterloo West, 40-0, last Friday. It was their sixth straight loss and second consecutive shutout. They have scored six points in losing their last three games by a combined 124-6. Wahlert had 104 total yards against West. The Golden Eagles have been shredded by injuries that cost them their top two QBs and rushers.Season leaders - Rushing: Justin Allendorf 33-130; Passing: Danny Broderick 32-74-7-306 1 TD; Receiving: Kyle Steines 33-381 4 TDs; Tackles: John Gregory 58; PATs: Nick Nemmers 10-10; FGs: Nemmersl 1-3 (long 28).

 

No. 8 Marion (7-1, 5-0) at DeWitt Central (5-3, 4-1)

Site: Central Clinton High School, DeWitt

Time: 7:30 p.m. (approximately)

Sophomore game: 5 p.m.

Radio: None

Storyline - Marion wins the Class 3A District 6 title with a win over DeWitt. A loss would produce a two-way tie with DeWitt and the Sabers would be the top seed based on head-to-head competition. However, if Solon beats Benton and there is a three-way tie between Marion, DeWitt and Solon, DeWitt must beat Marion by 11 or more points to claim the No. 1 seed. Anything less than that gives Marion the top seed. Just win it, Indians, and stay at home for the first two rounds of the playoffs.

Marion - The Indians mauled Clear Creek Amana, 27-0, last Friday night. Trev Biery ran for 84 yards and two TDs in nine carriers. Colotn Mowry ran for 121 yards and Andrew Davis 120. The Indians had 382 yards of rushing offense and held the Clippers to 109 total yards. Season leaders - Rushing: Biery 119-974 16 TDs, Mowry 85-395 5 TDs, Andrew Davis 33-269 3 TDs; Passing: Trevor Hardman 35-71-1-532 4 TDs; Receiving: Quinn Cannoy 11-211 1 TD, Ethan Herren 10-139 1 TD. Tackles: Isaac Frazier 62 (21 for loss); PATs: Dalton Ott 17-19, Ben Kroemer 6-7; FGs: Ott 1-2 (long 33).

 

 

DeWitt Central - The Sabers annihilated Anamosa 44-6 last Friday. Central ran for 335 yards and completed four passes for an additional 156 yards and two TDs. Austin Lechtenberg had 120 yards rushing and a TD. Emmit Enyeart and Chris Keitel caught scoring passes of 75 and 53 yards, respectively. Season leaders - Rushing: Keitel 129-921 9 TDs, Mitch Green 106-636 5 TDs, Jake Feldpausch 48-345 4 TDs, Lechtenberg 57-310 2 TDs; Passing: Green 31-66-1-371 3 TDs; Receiving: Lechtenberg 9-75 2 TDs; PATs: Patrick Haller 19-19; FGs: Haller 1-2 (30 long).

 

 

Preston (7-1, 7-0) at Cedar Valley Christian (0-8, 0-7)

Site: LaSalle Middle School

Time: 7 p.m.

Radio: None

Storyline - Cedar Valley Christian has its last chance for a win in 2012 against the first place team in its 8-player district. It doesn't look promising. The Huskies have scored points in their last six games, but have had no success in stopping anyone from scoring. Opponents are averaging 77 points against them, and only one has scored fewer than 70 -- Springville with 68. Preston is allowing nearly 43 points a game, but is averaging more than 58. Its highest scoring games have been the ones in which the Trojans have allowed the most points. They beat Midland 85-78 and West Central 77-68. This is the first meeting of the teams.

Preston - The Trojans rolled past Central City, 64-39, last Friday to clinch the top seed in Class 8 District 4. Andrew Driscoll ran for 105 yards and two TDs. Colin Larson completed five passes and four went for TDs. Logan Wilhelm caught two TD passes. Season leaders - Rushing: Driscoll 155-1337 23 TDs, Chase Zaruba 77-689 11 TDs, Larson 84-497 11 TDs, Dalton Milder 51-170 4 TDs; Passing: Larson 40-81-2-733 12 TDs; Receiving: Driscoll 15-200 2 TDs, Zaruba 14-265 3 TDs, Wilhelm 9-249 5 TDs; Tackles: Matt Zeimet 80; INT: Zaruba 6; PATs: Colton Bormann 21-30.

 

Cedar Valley - The Huskies were squashed by Elkader Central, 82-14, last Friday night. Spencer Zielke completed 4 of 31 passes for 76 yards and one TD, and also ran for 38 yards and a TD. Isaac Egli caught a TD pass. The Huskies have been outscored 616-96, an average score of 77-12. Only one opponent has scored less than 70 points. Season leaders - Rushing: Daniel Ostroot 38-198 1 TD, Zielke 52-120 2 TDs, Arturo Melendez 21-113 2 TDs; Passing: Zielke 29-123-7-509 7 TDs; Receiving: Eric Gustafson 19-166 2 TDs, Melendez 10-222 3 TDs; Tackles: Gustafson 53 (3 for loss).

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