BLOOMINGTON -- A 9-2 season would be embraced by most high school football teams, even celebrated. It would provide satisfaction for a job well done. "Not for us," Josh Mitchell said.

Mitchell and his Bloomington teammates thought a lot more about the "2" than the "9" in the offseason. Both losses were to rival Normal Community, with the latter eliminating BHS in the second round of the Class 6A playoffs.

After being the 6A state runner-up the previous three years, it was a bitter and premature exit.

"It's motivated us a lot," said Mitchell, a starting receiver and defensive back. "Two losses to Normal ? we can't have that. That was our key motivation (in the offseason), everybody thinking about those two losses and not wanting it to happen again."

"We fell off last year," said senior David Cook, a starting receiver and likely starter in the defensive secondary. "But the bar has been set here. We have to get back up there and hit that goal."

Specifically, the Purple Raiders hope to be playing in late November at the University of Illinois' Memorial Stadium, site of the 6A state championship game.

Naturally, 14th-year coach Rigo Schmelzer is more concerned with Decatur MacArthur, BHS' opponent in tonight's opener. In the long term, he said developing solid backups will be crucial.

"Our issue team-wise is quality depth," Schmelzer said. "We think we have some of that in the skill positions to help give these guys some breathers.

"But guys like Mitchell and Cook, they're not going to be coming off the field too much. We're going to give them breathers when we can, but we expect to win ballgames with these guys. That's important."

The 6-foot-1, 160-pound Mitchell caught 13 passes for 254 yards and three touchdowns last year. With him on one side and the 6-1, 175-pound Cook on the other, BHS has capable targets for senior quarterback Stephen Esch.

Esch got some valuable experience last year, most notably in the Intercity Doubleheader when he came off the bench against Normal Community.

"It was a big game in front of a lot of people. It gives you a lot of confidence (for this year)," Esch said. "I feel pretty confident in our receivers. They're both quick and fast, and they catch the ball well."

It wasn't hard to find Esch, Mitchell and Cook this summer. They often were at BHS, fine tuning their chemistry in the passing game.

"We ran a lot of pass routes," Mitchell said. "We got the timing down real well. I think David and I will do some big things this year."

Schmelzer considers Esch "as well-balanced a quarterback as we've had," citing the 5-11, 182-pound senior's ability "to run the ball and also throw. He has good foot speed and a good arm."

BHS must replace 1,479-yard rusher Valshun Powe at tailback. The frontrunner is 5-8, 155-pound senior Erik Wilson, who had a pair of 100-yard games last year.

Schmelzer likes Wilson's ability to catch the ball and called him "an elusive runner." The fullback likely will be senior Cole Lamberti, a transfer from Normal West.

The biggest question on offense is the line. Senior Andy Malinowski returns at center, but will have "four new people surrounding him," Schmelzer said. Also gone is tight end Ryan Kernes, who is now playing at Southern Illinois.

The Raiders' defensive front has more experience. Seniors Eric Floyd and Rich Kwitkowski are returning starters at tackle.

The 5-10, 225-pound Floyd is 15 pounds lighter than a year ago and "is moving very well," Schmelzer said. Kwitkowski earned first-team all-Big 12 Conference honors last year despite his 5-6, 180-pound frame.

"Both of those young men are quick and hard-nosed," Schmelzer said. "If we can find a third tackle, that's going to be a pretty good looking group."

Brad Lanham, a 6-3, 239-pound senior, could play at tackle on both sides of the ball.

"He's a big kid, but he's a lot faster than most kids his size," Kwitkowski said. "Eric (Floyd) is real strong and extremely fast for his size. I'm small, so I have to rely on my quickness."

Schmelzer expects good things from senior linebackers Joey Tyson and Matt Musick, and said sophomore Darrelynn Dunn has nailed down the strong safety spot. The BHS coach said Dunn has the tools to become a standout in the mold of former Raider star Adrian Arrington, who's now at Eastern Illinois.

Mitchell was a second-team all-Big 12 defensive back and led BHS with six interceptions last year. Other possible starters are Cook, Wilson and junior Levi Johnson. Lost from the secondary is three-year starter Brent Holtz, now a freshman on the Illinois State squad.

BHS shared the Big 12 title with Normal Community a year ago, the Raiders' sixth straight conference crown. Schmelzer considers NCHS, last year's 6A state runner-up, to be the Big 12 favorite.

Still ?

"The kids here work hard," he said. "Those two losses hurt last year coming to an Intercity rival, but we had a great group overall. If you'd have told me we'd be 9-2, I would have called you a liar because we were so small on the line.

"Our kids come to work, they practice hard and they play hard. I think we're always going to be competitive."