Sports : Regular season ends tonight; Benton, Union have high playoff hopes

Vinton-Shellsburg wraps up its football season at Benton Community, playing a Bocat team that still hopes to at least share the Class 2A District 7 title. The Vikings (0-8) will play the Bobcats in Van Horne. Benton is 7-1 overall and 3-1 in district play, one game behind Union, which is 4-0 in district play. Union plays at West Marshall, which lost to Benton. Union previously beat Benton in La Porte City. A Benton win and Union loss would create a three-way tie in the district. All three are likely playoff qualifiers, thanks to strong RPI ratings. In addition to the nine district champs, there will be seven at-large qualifiers to make a field of 16. Playoff qualifiers will be named at the end of tonight's games.n District games determine district championships, but the RPI rating system will be the tie-breaker that determines the at-large playoff contenders.