Six Messenger-area teams have locked up playoff spots with one full regular-season week left, while Humboldt and Algona will decide plenty over the next two weeks in Class 3A.

After knocking off the Bulldogs last week, the Wildcats (6-1, 3-0) are now the top-ranked squad in the 3A RPI rankings. The Bulldogs (6-1, 2-1) dropped to No. 5.

Their district will likely see three teams reach the postseason. In 3A, the top two teams from each district and four at-large squads advance.

Humboldt will host Clear Lake (5-2, 2-1) Friday with a district championship on the line. With a win, the Wildcats will lock up the league title. Algona has defeated the Lions, so with two victories, they will also automatically advance.

Clear Lake is 10th in the RPI and would likely receive an at-large bid.

Emmetsburg and Manson Northwest Webster will play for the Class 1A, District 2 title on Friday. Bishop Garrigan is the Eight-player, District 2 champion. West Bend-Mallard will also advance through the district.

Greene County (2A-8) and South Central Calhoun (A-7) are area playoff squads as well.

No. 1 (RPI) Humboldt (6-1, 3-0) at No. 10 Clear Lake (5-2, 2-1)

The Wildcats have made it through one of the state’s toughest slates with only one loss. Earlier in the season, they knocked off three-time defending champion Van Meter, ending its 26-game win streak.

Last week, as the No. 2 RPI squad in 3A, the Wildcats edged top-rated Algona at home by a final of 21-20.

Coen Matson led the Wildcats with 152 yards passing and two rushing touchdowns last Friday. Cash McIntire had the other Humboldt score.

The Wildcats went back and forth with the Bulldogs, only allowing one second-half TD.

Matson has thrown for 1,335 yards and 13 touchdowns, while rushing for four scores. McIntire has found the end zone four times.

The Lions are coming off a 36-0 win over Hampton-Dumont/CAL. Their only district loss came versus Algona (28-7).

In their win over Hampton-Dumont/CAL, Jaxson McIntire threw for 102 yards and three touchdowns and one score on the ground. Sam Dodge ran for 135 yards.

Alex Kerr caught two touchdowns passes, and Thomas Meyer also had a touchdown catch.

On the season, McIntire has 1,192 yards and 20 TDs with only two picks. Kerr has 11 grabs, with eight for touchdowns. He has 443 yards.

Meyer has 21 catches for 349 yards and seven trips to the end zone.

Humboldt’s lone loss to date was to fourth-ranked North Polk (4A).

Webster City (3-4, 2-1) at No. 5 Algona (6-1, 2-1)

The Bulldogs hit a snag in the contest with Humboldt a week ago, as Iowa State recruit Alex Manske suffered a season-ending UCL injury.

Manske’s younger brother, Nathan, came into the contest and nearly led the Bulldogs to an improbable comeback. The sophomore marched Algona down for a late TD, hitting Tate Slagle, who then pitched the ball to Evan Allie for a hook and lateral. The Bulldogs’ two-point attempt, however, fell short.

Before leaving, Alex Manske threw for 161 yards and two touchdown strikes. He connected with Allie and Slagle.

Nathan Manske was 9-for-11 with 91 yards.

Slagle (367 yards, 8 scores) and Allie (556 yards, 6 TDs) have been Algona’s main receiving targets.

William Weichart has run for 478 yards and six trips to the end zone.

The Lynx are coming off a 42-21 victory over Charles City. Senior Cael Nixon had a breakout performance, running for 275 yards and four touchdowns with a long of 65. Aiden Hrnicek and Jaxon Griffith also had trips to the end zone.

Nixon and Griffith have been a two-headed monster in the backfield, running for over 1,200 yards combined. Griffith has 672 yards and four scores, while Nixon has racked up 668 yards.

South Central Calhoun (4-3, 3-2) at No. 6 Earlham (5-2, 3-2)

The Titans locked up a playoff berth last week with a 41-12 over Panorama. South Central Calhoun ran for 166 yards and four touchdowns.

Caleb Juhl, Andrew Anderson, Merle Stauter and Cole Higgins each found the end zone.

Anderson and Luke Patterson threw TD passes. Garrett Krause and Charlie Nattress had scoring catches.

Earlham fell to Riverside, 41-6. On the season the Cardinals have run for 1,747 yards.

Caleb Smith has 887 yards on 103 carries. He has 12 touchdowns with a long of 80. Blake Reynolds and Dallas Canoyer have three touchdowns each.

Reynolds has thrown for 685 yards and seven TD.

Josh Winey has four scoring grabs and Conyer has two scores.

Rockford (0-7, 0-5) at West Bend-Mallard (4-3, 3-2)

The Wolverines earned a playoff spot with a 42-6 win over Northwood-Kensett last week. WB-M jumped out of the gate with a 22-point first quarter, then added 20 in the second frame.

Austin Schmidt had a huge game for the Wolverines, combining for five touchdowns. Schmidt ran for three scores and gained 178 yards. He threw for 59 yards and two TDs.

Cole Fehr also had a running scores. Micah Fehr caught two touchdown passes.

On the season, Schmidt has 19 touchdowns. He has run for 14 touchdowns and 982 yards, with 289 passing yards and five scores.

Colin Fehr has run for 624 yards and 12 trips to the end zone.

Micah Fehr and Eli Hanson have two TDs each, while Wesley Anderson also has one.

Bishop Garrigan (7-0, 5-0) at Harris-Lake Park (2-5, 2-3)

The Golden Bears won a 52-38 fight against No. 7 GTRA last week to remain unbeaten and push their win streak to 19 straight.

Garrigan ran for 341 yards and three touchdowns. Ethan Marso was the groundhog, running for 152 and two scores.

Tate Foertsch added 114 yards on the ground and threw for three scores. Trayton Cink had a rushing TD.

Wyatt Rosenmeyer, Michael Joyce and Owen Murphy had scoring catches.

On the year, Foertsch has thrown for 622 yards and 10 touchdowns. Cink has rushed for 726 and 17 scores, while Marso has eight TDs.

Joyce has four scoring catches, while Rosemenyer and Murphy have three each.

Other area games: Eagle Grove (0-7, 0-4) at Pocahontas Area (0-7, 0-4); Clarion-Goldfield/Dows (1-6, 0-4) at Spirit Lake (6-1, 4-0); Carroll Kuemper (6-1, 4-0) at Southeast Valley (3-4, 1-3); Des Moines Christian (4-2, 2-2) at Greene County (3-4, 2-2); East Sac County (3-4, 2-2) at Sioux Central (4-3, 2-2; Sibley-Ocheyedan (4-3) at North Union (2-5); Newell-Fonda (2-5, 1-4) at Siouxland Christian (0-7, 0-5).