What to know about Week 8 of the Coles County area football season

At the end of the high school football regular season most teams know whether they'll be in the postseason or not, but a few still have the futures of their seasons up for grabs.

In an Apollo Conference filled with parity, only one team has clinched a playoff spot while the other programs jockey with each other for a postseason place. Other conferences like the Lincoln Prairie have seen favorites like Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond and Sullivan-Okaw Valley dominate on their way to a blockbuster clash. Those teams have crucial late-season matchups with conference title implications.

Here are the top matchups of Week 8:

Taylorville at Charleston

Records: Taylorville 3-4, Charleston 3-4

Of note: The playoffs aren't for a couple of weeks, but this conference matchup will have the same feel as an elimination game. The Tornadoes have found some form in conference play after a 1-4 start. Two straight wins against Effingham and Mattoon have them suddenly back in the playoff hunt where they'll have a good chance of sneaking into the field with a win against the Trojans.

Charleston has gone in the opposite direction, dropping all four of its conference games after a 3-0 start. The Trojans have scored 20 points or fewer in each of their past four games.

Arcola at Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond

Records: Arcola 3-4, ALAH 7-0

Of note: After a loss to Sangamon Valley, Arcola has a tough road to avoid elimination against the best team in the Lincoln Prairie over the past few seasons. ALAH has won its past 21 conference games, but the Purple Riders must break that streak to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Mattoon at Mahomet-Seymour

Records: Mattoon (2-5), Mahomet-Seymour (5-2)

Of note: Mattoon fell out of the playoff race with Week 7's loss to Taylorville, and will face an uphill battle against a Mahomet team that's already clinched the Apollo title.