Playoff fever doesn't officially kick in until Saturday night when the Illinois High School Association announces the pairings for its eight-class, 256-team postseason blowout.

Tremont and Fisher beg to differ entering their regular-season finale tonight, a 7 o'clock Heart of Illinois Conference showdown at Tremont with playoff implications for both teams.

Tremont (4-4 overall, 4-3 HOI) faces a must-win situation and Fisher (5-3, 4-3), sporting a precarious playoff points total (combined wins of all opponents) of 32, needs a victory to erase any uncertainty regarding its postseason status.

"Every one of our games has been that way (like a playoff game) if you look at our schedule," said Tremont coach Lou Wicks. "I think they're excited for the opportunity. We've had to battle quite a few hard games and we've been in quite a few of them. We're a young team and we're just looking for an opportunity to play some more."

Dwight (4-4) also faces a must-win situation, while Mahomet-Seymour (5-3) has a similar scenario as Fisher with the Bulldogs' playoff point total at 31.

The Pantagraph area's other 5-3 teams - Lexington (41), PBL (41) and Normal West (35) - and 5-2 Pontiac (38) are in regardless of tonight's outcomes.

Teams needed 35 points to make the playoffs last season as 53 of 58 5-4 teams received berths. The cutoff was 37 points in 2004 when 54 of 59 teams at 5-4 qualified.

Entering this weekend's action, 164 teams have clinched berths state-wide. That leaves 92 spots available in the eight, 32-team classes. There are 75 teams in the state with 5-3 records and 57 at 4-4.

"We don't really know what's going on throughout the state but we're pretty aware it's going to be tight and we're going to be on the bubble," said Fisher coach Matt Leng. "We feel like if we are 5-4 we will have enough points. The problem is there's just a lot of 4-4 teams out there up and down the state.

"I think we're going to be in, but you can't predict what's going to go on around the state. You don't want to be in a state of curiosity or worry on Saturday. Leave no doubt. We've got a great opportunity to clinch it."

Wicks' biggest concern is stopping the Fisher running tandem of Colten Unzicker (900 yards, 14 touchdowns) and Josh Ingold (728 yards, 9 TDs).

"I think the big thing is you have to control their running game," Wicks said. "They have some quality running backs and they do a good job. We also have to try to find a way to move the ball on offense."

Wicks said clinching a playoff berth "would be a big step forward" for his underclassman-dominated team.

"We have some seniors who have done a great job for us, but quite frankly our offensive line is loaded with sophomores and juniors," Wicks said. "We also have some young kids coming up defensively who we're real excited about. Right now it's about our seniors because they want to play a little bit more ball."

Leng's seniors aren't ready to call it quits, either.

"We told our seniors it's the ultimate game because it's the last game of the regular season in your senior year and it would be a great win if you could go to a place like Tremont and clinch it because they're fighting for their playoff lives," Leng said. "At the same time it's the ultimate game for their seniors so they'll be fired up, too."

Dwight will be eyeing its fourth win in five games when it visits Interstate Eight Conference foe Lisle (5-3). The Trojans last made the playoffs in 2004 when they ended a 10-year postseason drought.

More HOIC matchups

In a key regular-season finale without playoff implications, the first champion of the new HOI Conference will be crowned at Gibson City when GCMS (7-1, 6-1) hosts Flanagan-Woodland (7-1, 6-1).

"It sets up nicely for us and Gibson City," said Flanagan-Woodland coach Ted O'Boyle. "It's what you shoot for all year - to have a chance for a conference championship and improve your seed in the playoffs."

The game will match two of the area's best ground attacks. GCMS is led by Jamie Sexton (1,044 yards, 14 TDs) and Casey Cline (675 yards, 10 TDs). Flanagan-Woodland will counter with Brent Smith (926 yards, 11 TDs) and Aaron Willis (663 yards, 9 TDs).

"They have two nice backs, and I've been impressed with what their quarterback (Wade McGuire) has been able to do," O'Boyle said. "I see two fairly similar teams talent-wise, and it should be a heck of a battle. We have to go to a hostile environment. We'll need to eliminate our mistakes and turnovers, and ball control will be huge for us."

Ridgeview (6-2, 5-2) will host Fieldcrest (6-2, 5-2) at Colfax in another HOI battle that will impact playoff seedings and assure the winner a tie for second place in the league standings.