MAHOMET, Ill. (WCIA) — After back-to-back first-round playoff exits, Mahomet-Seymour is focused on raising the bar.

The Bulldogs have plenty of new roles to fill, but lots of experience back on the offensive line, returning four of five starters from last season.

Taking over at QB is senior Ryan Pruitt, who is the cousin of last season’s starter, Luke Dyer.

The new quarterback has added confidence in his new role, thanks in part to all of that returning talent up front.

“I think it’s having a lot of faith in my guys, I trust them to death,” Pruitt said. “I know that they’re returning for two, maybe three years.” “They have a lot of experience, I know that they’re going to do their job up there.”

“Ryan’s been my boy since I moved here in sixth grade,” senior right tackle Phil Daniels said. “We’ve been playing MSYF all the way to senior year now.” “It’s sweet to have him back in my corner.” “It’s sweet to have that connection, almost behind just having the whole team back and being able to play ball together one last time.”

“They know that there’s a lot of question marks out there from our community and certainly other teams that we’re going to play about all that we lost,” head coach Jon Adkins said. “I think that’s what’s drove these kids this entire offseason and summer and now into the season of trying to prove people wrong and just show them what they’re capable of.”

The Bulldogs open the season at Morton on August 29.