Most people figured it was coming. Here it is: a Week 8 showdown between Olney and Casey-Westfield for the Little Illini Conference lead. The winner clinches at least a share of the crown. However, not all eyes will be on Casey tonight, because there is still plenty on the line in at least two other venues. Here is the lineup for this Friday night:

Olney (5-0, 7-0) at #4 1A Casey-Westfield (5-0, 7-0), 7:00 p.m.
Olney seeks its’ second straight LIC title, Casey-Westfield looking for its’ first crown since 2014, which it shared with Lawrenceville and Robinson… Olney QB Gavyn Cothern is expected to go over the 5,000-yard career total offense mark tonight… He has 2,799 career yards rushing and 2,135 passing yards all-time… Tigers average 49.3 points per game… Casey-Westfield’s defense and special teams may be the league’s best at creating scoring opportunities… Warriors don’t panic either, after rallying from 16 points down in the third quarter to defeat Marshall, then trailing Mt. Carmel twice last week before winning in OT… Massey says: Olney, 38-31.

Newton (1-4, 2-5) at Lawrenceville (0-5, 1-6), 7:00 p.m.
Both teams looking to finish strong… Newton snapped a three-game losing streak last week with narrow win over Robinson… Eagles QB Mulvey leads the LIC in passing yards, with 1,380 (pending his total against Casey-Westfield)… He has five games over the 200-yard mark… He tossed four scoring passes vas. Olney, and three vs. Paris… Lawrenceville opened the season by beating Carlyle, 34-12, ending a 13-game losing streak, but have dropped six straight since… Indians had leads against Olney and Paris…  Massey says: Newton 34-14.

Mt. Carmel (3-4, 3-2) at Marshall (2-3, 4-3), 7:00 p.m.
Mt. Carmel has to win out to become “playoff eligible”… Golden Aces get QB River Deisher back tonight… He was injured late vs. Casey-Westfield, and was unavailable during OT in loss… Deisher is 59-of-98 (.602) in the air for 702 yards and six touchdowns…RB Elliott Acree and Deisher are 1-2 on the ground… Acree has 572 rushing yards, Deisher 570… Acree’s career rushing total stands at 2,132 yards… Marshall RB Lucca Giannavola is 40 yards shy of the 2,400-yard mark in career rushing… He has scored 34 career touchdowns… Lions QB Luke Brodie is 30-of-55 (.545) in the air for 666 yards… Massey says: Mt. Carmel, 42-14.

Paris (2-3, 4-3) at Robinson (2-3, 3-4), 7:00 p.m.
Paris becomes “playoff eligible” with a win… Tigers RB Carter Crippes scored two touchdowns last week vs. Olney, and totalled 103 yards… Other big nights for Crippes came against Newton (183 yards) and Lawrenceville (184 yards)…  Robinson needs to win out to become “playoff eligible”… Maroons QB Reese Johnson is 62-of-111 (.559) for 742 yards… Johnson has thrown 10 touchdown passes… WR A.J. Knoblett has caught five TD passes…    …Massey says: Paris, 35-28.

This story will be updated as more information is gathered.