With district play approaching the finish line for Class 2A on down, these next two weeks are crucial for a number of reasons as the playoff picture becomes clearer.

Prep football squads are vying for postseason spots in each class.

Class 5A will take the top 16 teams based on RPI. In 4A and 3A, the district champions and runner-ups are in, with the remaining four at-large bids awarded to the highest ranked teams based on RPI.

Class 2A, 1A and A will take the top four schools from all eight districts for 32 qualifying teams. Eight-player has 10 districts, so the top three in each district will advance along with two at-large qualifiers.

The first tie-breaker will be based on head-to-head results. If that doesn’t resolve the tie, the next step could be the IHSAA ranking or an alphabetical draw.

Humboldt (3-3, 1-1) at MOC-Floyd Valley (4-2, 1-1)

A year after reaching the state finals and finishing as the 3A runner-up, Humboldt finds itself in a tough spot. Yet if the Wildcats keep stacking wins, they’ll be in good shape again.

Sioux City Heelan is atop the Class 3A, District 1 standings at 2-0, while four other squads — including the Wildcats (3-3, 1-1) — have one district victory.

The Wildcats are coming off a big rivalry win over Algona in the Battle of Highway 169. Quarterback Jackson Flaherty found a familiar target twice for scores in twin brother Chase Flaherty. Jackson was 8-for-13 for 114 yards passing and the two scores. Chase caught six balls for 104 yards.

Cash McIntire ran the ball 25 times for 145 yards and a TD. Jackson Flaherty also had a rushing touchdown.

On the season, Jackson Flaherty has thrown for 930 yards and 11 touchdowns. Chase has caught 22 balls for 421 yards and five TDs. Valley Davis has three scores, while Jaxson Kirchhoff and McIntire have two and one, respectively.

On the ground, McIntire has 546 yards and eight scores. Jackson Flaherty has three rushing touchdowns.

Dylan Maasdam has run for 913 yards on 116 carries and five TDs. Quarterback Carson Carmichael has thrown for 606 yards and hit paydirt three times throwing. He has also rushed for six touchdowns.

Pocahontas Area (2-4, 1-2) at East Sac County (2-4, 1-2)

Whoever wins this contest will have the upper-hand for one of four Class 1A, District 2 playoff spots. South Central Calhoun, The Indians and Raiders all have one win each, trailing Manson Northwest Webster (3-0) and Emmetsburg (2-1).

The Titans have the tie-breaker over the Raiders, and will play the Indians in the final week. South Hamilton faces the E-Hawks and Cougars in the final two weeks.

The Indians are coming off a 43-36 victory over South Hamilton, while the Raiders lost to the Titans by a final of 40-0.

Blake Bunda had a big night, throwing for 119 yards and one touchdown to pace PAC last Friday. Bunda also ran for 96 and three trips to the end zone.

Christian Valenzuela caught the touchdown strike.

Bunda has thrown for 768 and five scores and has run for three. Karson Welander and Logan Shiflett have one score each.

Valenzuela and Welander have two TDs for the Indiana, while Collin Dreith has one.

Weston Julin has thrown four and rushed for six touchdowns to power ESC. Carson Schmitt has five rushing scores, while Gabe King has one.

Zach Jacobson, Beckham Kluver, Ryan Peterson and Schmitt have one score each.

Clarion-Goldfield-Dows (4-2, 2-1) at South Hardin (5-1, 2-1)

The Cowboys have already earned a Class 1A, District 3 spot, but with a win, they would solidify runner-up status.

C-G/D has won three of their last four contests, including last week’s 34-16 triumph over Eagle Grove. South Hardin suffered its first loss versus Grundy Center (21-12).

The Cowboys ran for 288 yards last Friday. Selvin Gonzalez and Joel Meier had 148 and 122, respectively, with five touchdowns between the pair.

Clarion-Goldfield-Dows has rushed for 1,687 yards so far on the year. Gonzalez and Meier have both eclipsed the 600-yard plateau.

Gonzalez has 663 on 106 carries and six trips to paydirt. Meier has 643 yards on 86 attempts and 10 TDs.

For South Hardin, Peyton Weich is 62-for-97 passing for 1,144 yards and 16 scores. Weich has also run for three TDs.

Kameron Adams is the team’s rushing leader, with 740 yards and six touchdowns.

Sam Benson is the top receiver, grabbing 23 balls for 621 yards and nine trips to the end zone. Casey Williamson has five TD strikes.

North Union (3-3, 2-2) at West Bend-Mallard (2-4, 2-1)

The winner of this game will be the frontrunner for the third District 2 spot behind top-ranked Bishop Garrigan and Riceville already have four.

The Wolverines finish with the Golden Bears next week. North Union will host Northwood-Kensett.

WB-M has lost two straight and is coming off a 65-6 defeat to Kingsley-Pierson. North Union fell to the Golden Bears (54-7) — its third consecutive loss.

West Bend-Mallard has rushed for 811 yards. Leyden Grimm has 292 yards and four scores. Carter Stalzer and Cesar Falcon also have touchdown runs.

Trent Morey has thrown six touchdowns — four to Abner Zaugg and one to Kacen Flynn and Grady Goddard.

North Union has six passing touchdowns, while Greyson Colegrove has rushed for seven. Carson Crouch and Drake Nelsen have three and two scores, respectively.

Other area games: Sioux Center (5-1, 1-1) at Algona (3-3, 0-2); Webster City (2-4, 1-1) at Bishop Heelan (5-1, 2-0); Southeast Valley (3-3, 1-2) at Spirit Lake (1-5, 0-3); Emmetsburg (4-2, 2-1) at South Hamilton (0-5, 0-3); Garner-Hayfield-Ventura (0-6, 0-3) at Eagle Grove (1-5, 0-3); Ar-We-Va (3-3) at Newell-Fonda (2-5); Bishop Garrigan (6-0, 4-0) at Northwood-Kensett (4-2, 1-2).