The Mahomet-Seymour football team is gearing up to host Marion on Saturday in a highly anticipated opening round of the 5A playoffs.

This encounter comes with an intriguing backstory.

Walter Skeate, currently serving as an assistant coach for Marion, once donned the Bulldogs’ jersey himself. As a player, he excelled on both the offensive and defensive lines and was distinguished by being inducted into the program’s prestigious ‘Blue Dot Society.’ Notably, Skeate achieved this recognition despite only spending three years at Mahomet, having transferred in as a sophomore.

“It still holds a special place in my heart,” Skeate shared. “I had some fantastic years in Mahomet. I remain in contact with my head coach, and throughout this week, I’ve received numerous messages from friends… It’s truly special.”

While Skeate has faced off against his alma mater before—most notably in 2019 when Marion claimed a 34-14 victory—this Saturday marks his first postseason showdown against the Bulldogs.

Having moved frequently due to his father’s military career, Skeate found in Mahomet a sense of community and belonging he hadn’t realized he needed.

“I had never had those lifelong friends or anything like that,” he said, speaking of his time prior to moving to Mahomet. “And to this very day, 30 years after graduation, I still am in touch with the guys I played football with in Mahomet. Once a year we get together and we go to a Cardinals game or we get together whenever we can. That’s that thing I was looking for that I did get from my time in Mahomet.”