What we learned: 4 takeaways from Week 8 high school football around Peoria

Teams becoming playoff eligible, where Peoria High's loss puts them in the Big 12 Conference hierarchy and sorting out the Mid-Illini Conference race.

These storylines and more make up our top takeaways from high school football in Week 8 around the Peoria area:

Heading to the playoffs ... maybe

Those playoff spots are filling up fast and Week 8 was the perfect time to become playoff eligible or officially punch a ticket to the postseason.

Washington, Dunlap, Elmwood/Brimfield, Monmouth-Roseville and Rushville-Industry all hit the five-win mark on Friday. This means these teams are playoff eligible, but each needs a victory in Week 9 to completely assure themselves a spot in the 256-team playoff field.

Looking for scores?Week 8 high school football results from around the Peoria area

A trio of Peoria-area teams — Farmington, El Paso-Gridley and Knoxville — are now six-win teams and officially in the playoffs.

Several other area teams won this week, getting win No. 4 and securing an opportunity to get a victory in next week's regular-season finale. Look for more on those teams and who they play coming up early next week.

Big 12 title game in Week 9

Peoria High's hopes for a Big 12 Conference title were eliminated with a 30-6 loss to Normal West on Friday.

This leaves Champaign Centennial (7-1, 6-0) and the Wildcats (7-1, 6-0) playing in Week 9 for the title. A Peoria High win over West would have made for some fun scoreboard-watching next Friday that could have ended with a Peoria title, a Centennial title — or three teams sharing the crown.

Alas, the best Peoria High can do is finish tied for second with a Week 9 victory over Peoria Notre Dame.

Springboard?Peoria High football lost the conference title. Here's why that could be a good thing

Mid-Illini madness

This space last week outlined the battle for second, third, fourth and fifth place in the Mid-Illini.

That picture has become increasingly clearer after the Week 8 results. First, Pekin deserves its props after wrapping up a Mid-Illini title share with its 49-6 blowout win over Limestone. The Dragons (8-0, 6-0) finish out the season by traveling to East Peoria (2-6, 1-5) next week.

Washington (5-3, 5-1) looks for its fifth win in a row when it hosts Morton (4-4, 3-3) next week. The Potters need a win to get playoff eligible, while Washington's hopes to share the M-I title are still alive if EP can upset Pekin.

More:How Dunlap overcame wind and rain to reign over Morton in a furious overtime comeback

Dunlap (5-3, 4-2) and Metamora (5-3, 4-2) are in the same boat: Both teams in need a Week 9 victory to move from playoff eligible into playoff clincher. The Eagles won an overtime thriller over Morton, while Metamora earned a forfeit win over East Peoria in Week 8.

Talk about a great way to end the regular season.

Eureka falls again

State-ranked Eureka missed out an opportunity to win the Heart of Illinois Conference - Large Division when Downs Tri-Valley won 6-0.

The Hornets (6-2, 3-1) are now on a two-game skid after last week's loss to undefeated Colfax Ridgeview/Lexington. However, that doesn't mean the signature Eureka defense didn't come to play.

Best of the week:The Peoria area's top performances from Week 8

After going a span of 23 consecutive quarters without allowing a touchdown earlier this season, Eureka gave up 21 points to CR/L, then just one TD to the Vikings with 43.5 seconds remaining in the game. The Hornets are still only giving up 4.6 points a game and have pitched four shutouts.

A hungry Deer Creek-Mackinaw (4-4) awaits Eureka in Week 9, looking to become playoff eligible and send the Hornets into the playoffs on a three-game losing streak.