It's Week 8 of the prep football season and the playoff picture is coming into focus.

Playoff berths have been secured by two Metro teams - Xavier and Kennedy.

Prairie and Washington have pretty much already guaranteed their spots.

Marion is in with a win in one of its last two games.

As for the rest:

Linn-Mar has a pulse. Jefferson is on its deathbed. Cedar Valley ... is still looking for the program's first win.

Washington and Prairie are the two hottest teams in the Metro and they play each other Friday night at John Wall Field. The winner will at worst be in a tie for first place in the Mississippi Valley Conference Valley Division with one game to play. The loser will likely be in the bottom of the playoff bracket and have to win its way to the Dome on the road.

Another game of particular interest has Cedar Falls at Xavier. The Saints are in a three-way tie with Prairie and Washington atop the Valley Division at 3-1. Cedar Falls is a half-game back at 3-2.

More important for Xavier is winning and maintaining the possibility of earning a top four seed. That would give the Saints at least two playoff games at home.

Kennedy needs wins in its last two games to ensure a first-round home game. The Cougars face skidding Hempstead at Dubuque.

Marion travels to Tiffin to play Clear Creek Amana. A win could salve a lot of disappointment for the Indians, who have lost three of their last four games.

Linn-Mar, Jefferson and Cedar Valley will be looking to play spoiler. Linn-Mar plays at Iowa City High and Jefferson hosts Iowa City West. Both Iowa City schools have clinched playoff berths. Both are playing for top four seeds. West currently holds the No.2 seed.

Cedar Valley can knock Central Elkader out of the playoffs.

They all count.

Friday

Washington (4-3, 3-1) at Prairie (4-3, 3-1)

Site: John Wall Field

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

Sophomore game: 5 p.m.

Radio: KGYM (AM-1600)

Last meeting: Prairie 44, Washington 6 (Oct. 11, 2012)

Line: Prairie by 3

Washington - The Warriors won their fourth straight game last Friday, holding off Jefferson 14-7. Washington trailed 7-6 at halftime, but went ahead on a Reid Snitker TD run in the third quarter. The Warriors beat then-No.1 Xavier the week before at Saints Field. Snitker threw 3 TD passes and ran for another. The defense held Xavier to 204 total yards. Snitker has run for 330 yards and 7 TDs the past four weeks, and also has thrown 6 TD passes. Snitker is completing 62.1 percent of his passes (87 of 140) for 980 yards and 8 TDs, but also has thrown 9 interceptions. He also has run for a team-high 387 yards and 7 TDs. RB Mason Taylor has 323 yards rushing. Landon Akers has 23 receptions for 351 yards and 2 TDs. Clayton Bjornsen has caught 21 passes for 228 yards and 3 TDs. Isaiah Nimmers has 22 receptions for 180 yards. PK Gunnar Lenzen is 7 of 13 on PAT kicks, 2-of-4 on FGs. Connor Vincent has 73 tackles, Jake Bjornsen 60. The Warriors have forced 12 turnovers. Washington totaled only 25 points in its first three games, but has 94 in its last four outings. A Warriors win clinches a playoff berth and keeps alive the possibility of a first-round home game. The Warriors still are all but in the playoffs with a loss.

 

Prairie - The Hawks whipped Linn-Mar 63-17 last Friday. Prairie ran for 497 yards and 9 TDs against the Lions for their third straight win. Prairie stunned Cedar Falls, 10-7, the week before at the UNI-Dome. The Hawks' losses have been to Iowa City West (21-14), Kennedy (28-24) and Xavier (23-0), teams that are a combined 17-4. Mitch Christensen has rushed for 881 yards and 8 TDs. He is averaging 5.9 yards per carry. QB Trey Beckman has rushed for 274 yards, but is completing only 43.7 percent of his passes (55 of 126) and has thrown 5 TD passes and 7 interceptions. WR Mitch Dellamuth has 7 receptions for 143 yards and 2 TDS. WR Jesse Vizzini has 19 receptions for 218 yards. LB Tristan Beyer is a force on defense with 57 tackles. Ben Boldt leads the team with 61 stops. PK Sam Drysdale is 21-of-22 on PAT kicks and 3-of-4 on FGs with a long of 50 yards. Like Washington, Prairie has all but clinched a playoff berth. A win against the Warriors keeps them on track to host a first-round playoff game.

Cedar Falls (5-2, 3-2) at Xavier (6-1, 3-1)

Site: Saints Field

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

Sophomore game: 5 p.m.

Radio: KMRY (AM-1450/FM-93.1)

Television: MC-22 (Tape delayed broadcasts Saturday at 10:30 p.m., Sunday at 6 p.m.)

Last meeting: Xavier 27, Cedar Falls 6 (Nov. 9, 2012)

Line: Xavier by 6

Cedar Falls - The Tigers routed Dubuque Wahlert, 33-10, last Friday. Eli Berregaard ran for 138 yards and 2 TDs. Cedar Falls had 242 yards rushing. Berregaard has 924 yards rushing and 12 TDs. Dennison Harrington has 403 yards rushing and 4 TDs. QB Trey Hansen is completing only 43.4 percent of his passes (36 of 83) for 641 yards and 5 TDs. Kyle Boomgarden has 10 receptions for 253 yards and 2 TDs. Rayce Willett has a team-high 50 tackles, 7 solos for losses. Cedar Falls has intercepted 8 passes and forced 17 turnovers. PK Caleb Iehl is 23 of 25 on PAT kicks and 2 of 4 on FGs. The Tigers lost twice to Xavier last year. Three losses in a season are highly irregular for a Cedar Falls team. But it's going to happen this season.

 

Xavier - The Saints bounced back from their loss to Washington with a 40-14 whipping of Waterloo West. But while they won that game, they may have lost QB Quinton Scholer for tonight's tilt. Scholer sprained an ankle in the second quarter and left the game. Freshman Bryce Schulte made his first varsity appearance and completed 3 of 4 passes for 60 yards and a TD. Schulte, the younger brother of graduated all-state QB Reggie Schulte, will start against Cedar Falls if Scholer is unable to play, a tough spot for a frosh. Scholer's absence would leave a huge hole. He has completed 69.0 percent of his passes (58 of 84) for 683 yards and 9 TDs. He has been equally dangerous with his feet, rushing for 326 yards and 5 TDs. RB Brendan Miller leads the team with 750 rushing yards and 9 TDs. WR Bryce Grimm has 16 receptions for 188 yards and 2 TDs. Frank Hill has 14 receptions for 214 yards. PK Ryan Persick is 27 of 28 on PAT kicks and 5-of-9 on FGs. Nic Ekland has 30 tackles. Daniel Vega has 27 tackles, including 13 solos for losses. Matt Nelson has 23 tackles, 7 for losses. The Saints are playing for a top four seeding and two home playoff games.

IC West (6-1, 3-1) at Jefferson (1-6, 1-3)

Site: Kingston Stadium

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

Sophomore game: 5 p.m.

Radio: None

Last meeting: Iowa City West 71, Jefferson 14 (Oct. 12, 2012)

Line: Iowa City West by 28

Iowa City West - The Trojans were toppled by Iowa City High, 14-7, last Friday. It snapped a 16-game win streak in regular season games and knocked West out of the Des Moines Register rankings. QB Nate Boland has completed 66 of 108 passes for 1,076 yards and 7 TDs. He has thrown but one interception. Boland also has a team-high 640 rushing yards with 11 TDs. RB Devin Raffensperger has 568 rushing yards and Micah Kelsay has 478. Kelsay has scored 13 TDs. WR Anthony Batie has 29 receptions for 558 yards and 5 TDs. PK Connor Gordon is 30 of 32 on PAT kicks and 2-of-4 on FGs. Kelsay has 66 tackles. The Trojans have clinched a playoff berth and are playing for a top four seeding.

 

Jefferson - The J-Hawks lost a hard-fought 14-7 decision to Washington last Friday, despite managing just 145 yards of total offense. QB Layne Sullivan leads the team in rushing with 440 yards and 4 TDs. RB Michael Moncivais has  187 yards. Ben Koering has 12 receptions for 198 yards, and also has 20 carries for 166. Sullivan has completed 45.9 percent of his passes (67 of 146) for 927 yards and 5 TDs. He also has thrown 6 interceptions. Highly regarded two-way lineman Michael Smith has 52 tackles, LB Will Orr 51. PK Nick Rocha is 9 of 9 on PAT kicks, and 6 of 9 on FGs with a long of 46. Key mistakes have kept the improved J-Hawks from making the step up to winning. They keep getting closer.

Kennedy (5-2, 3-1) at Hempstead (3-4, 2-3)

Site: Dalzell Field, Dubuque

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

Sophomore game: 5 p.m.

Radio: None

Last meeting: Kennedy 48, Hempstead 7 (Oct. 12, 2012)

Line: Kennedy by 10

Kennedy - The Cougars scored two defensive TDs in the first 2 minutes and rolled past Waterloo East, 42-6, last Thursday. Miles Moa ran for 139 yards and 2 TDs. Moa has rushed for 674 yards, Logan Wedo 351 and Terrance Hall 253. QB Derek Jacobus has run for 142 yards, and also has completed 49.4 percent of his passes (40 of 81) for 439 yards and 5 TDs. TE Drew Heitland has 16 receptions for 216 yards and 3 TDs. PK Mark Schulz is 20 of 21 on PAT kicks. He has not attempted a FG. Triston Christopher and Jordan Lunsford have 61 tackles, Prince Kollie 57 and Jordan Lunsford 50. The Cougars are playing for a high playoff seed.

Hempstead - The Mustangs were upset by Dubuque Senior, 24-16, last Friday for their third straight loss. They had won three straight before the skid. Hempstead was held to 151 total yards. RB Matt Zenner has rushed for 1,104 yards and 13 TDs. QB Julian Runde has completed 21 of 49 passes for 353 yards and one TD. Zenner is the leading receiver with 13 catches for 216 yards and a TD. PK Chris Francis is 19 of 21 on PAT kicks and 2 of 4 on FGs with a long of 40. Blake Thurston and Carter Daack have 73 tackles apiece. Chris Tomkins has 72. Hempstead needs a win to secure a playoff berth, but its mojo is headed in the wrong direction.

Linn-Mar (2-5) at IC High (6-1)

Site: Frank Bates Field, Iowa City

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

Sophomore game: 5 p.m.

Radio: KCJJ (AM-1630)

Last meeting: Linn-Mar 33, Iowa City High 20 (Oct. 12, 2012)

Line: Iowa City High by 17

Linn-Mar - The Lions were whacked by Prairie, 63-17, last Friday night when they allowed nearly 500 yards of rushing offense. The Lions have allowed nearly 42 points per game and have particularly struggled to stop the run. QB Ryan Schmidt has completed 58.5 percent of his passes (96 of 164) for 1,525 yards and 11 TDs. He has thrown 6 interceptions. RB Ross Lembeck has rushed for 533 yards and 8 TDs. Sprinter Perrion Scott has played in only four games because of leg injuries and has 81 yards. Logan Benter has rushed for 183 yards and is averaging 10.8 yards per carry. WR Griffin Bennecke has 22 receptions for 647 yards, a whopping 29.4 yards per catch, and 8 TDs. PK Austin Wolter is 28 of 29 on PAT kicks and 2-for-2 on FGs. Benter has a team-high 66 tackles. The Lions need to stay alive for a playoff berth.

Iowa City High - The Little Hawks beat Iowa City West, 14-7, last Friday and vaulted to No.5 in the Des Moines Register rankings. Xavier Washpun ran for 111 yards and a TD. The Little Hawks have won six straight since a season-opening 14-13 loss to Cedar Falls. Washpun has rushed for 1,161 yards and 14 TDs. QB Mitch Wieland has 224 rushing yards. He also has completed 54 of 106 passes for 754 yards and 5 TDs. Jake Leohr has 15 receptions for 288 yards, Cory Lindsey 14 for 206 and 4 TDs. PK Drew Cornwell is 25 of 29 on PAT kicks and 4 of 8 on FGs with a long of 40. Ivan Diaz has 56 tackles. City High is in the playoffs, but can ill-afford a letdown and maintain its chances of a pair of postseason home dates. 

Marion (3-4, 2-2) at Clear Creek Amana (3-4, 1-3)

Site: Tiffin

Time: 7 p.m. (approximately)

Sophomore game: 5 p.m.

Radio: KGYM (FM-106.3/107.5)

Last meeting: Marion 27, Clear Creek Amana 0 (Oct. 12, 2012)

Line: Marion by 4

Marion - The Indians were smothered by Solon, 42-0, last Friday. Marion was held to 30 total yards. QB Trevor Hardman has completed 51.5 percent of his passes (50 of 97) for 822 yards and 8 TDs. The rushing game has been decimated by injury. RB Colton Mowry has rushed for 282 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 216 yards, Logan Fuller 179 and Dontavious Young 173. WR Quinn Cannoy has 22 receptions for 463 yards and 7 TDs. Fuller has 21 receptions for 299 yards. PK Ben Kroemer is 16 of 18 on PAT kicks and 1 for 2 on FGs. The Indians have forced 9 turnovers. Jordan Comreid has a team-high 33 tackles. Jordan Keeton has 32, Deshaun Quinn 31, including 8 solos for losses. A win clinches a playoff berth for the Indians. A loss keeps the Indians on eggshells.

 

Clear Creek Amana - The Clippers thrashed Anamosa 48-9 last Friday when they ran for 493 yards. CCA had four runners with more than 80 yards, led by Nile Rourke's 100. Jonathan Nzombo leads the team in rushing with 677 yards and 6 TDs. Tanner Bandy has 431, Rourke 278 and Andrew Beckler 244. The Clippers have completed 37.7 percent of their passes as a team (33 of 90) for 410 yards and 4 TDs. They have thrown 7 interceptions. Beckler is the leading receiver with 14 catches for 146 yards. PK Jon Jacobson is 21 of 22 on PAT kicks and 1 of 4 on FGs. Stephen Jensen has 85 tackles. CCA needs a win to stay alive for a possible playoff berth.

Cedar Valley (0-6, 0-5) at Central Elkader (4-4, 3-3)

Site: Elkader

Time: 7 p.m.

Radio: None

Last meeting: Central Elkader 82, Cedar Valley 14 (Oct. 12, 2012)

Line: No line

Cedar Valley - The Huskies have been outscored 419-64 in their six games, most recently a 68-14 home loss to previously winless Central City last Friday. Kenan Ulmer threw 2 TD passes and passed for 100 yards. He also had 66 yards rushing. Central City had 506 yards of offense, 241 and 6 TDs passing. Ulmer leads the Huskies in rushing with 186 yards and 4 TDs. He also has thrown for 392 yards, completing 19 of 73 passes. He has been intercepted 9 times. Caleb Severson is the leading receiver with 6 receptions for 202 yards and 4 TDs. Tom Scroggs also has 6 catches for 95 yards and 2 TDs. Eric Gustafson has a team-high 52 tackles and also has recovered 3 fumbles. The Huskies are still searching for their first win.

 

Central Elkader - The Warriors edged Midland, 22-20, last Friday for their fourth win in their last five games. They have outscored their last three foes by a combined 160-72, including an 86-point outburst against Rockford. RB Nathan Fitzgerald has rushed for 753 yards and 16 TDs. QB Derek Ehrhardt has completed half of his 74 passes for 593 yards and 8 TDs, with only 1 interception. Shawn Fults has 19 receptions for 374 yards and 7 TDs. The Warriors have forced 16 turnovers. Central is playing its final district game. The Warriors need a win and for West Central to lose one of its last two games (against Springville or Lansing Kee) to clinch a playoff berth.

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