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CORTLAND -- So far, so good in the Mauro Monz era at Madonna.
Monz and the Blue Dons followed up their blowout win on the road in the opener by knocking off previously unbeaten Bridgeport in their home opener for a 2-0 start to the season.
"It was great to play at home," Monz said. "After waiting all spring and all summer, to finally get out there and play in front of our home fans was exciting. I know the kids were really excited, they played with a lot of enthusiasm.
"The crows was great, it was a great turnout, and I think it will continue to grow as word gets around that we have some really good young players and the Madonna tradition will continue."
They'll face another tough test this week, as the Dons head back on the road for a Saturday night match up with Mathews at Lakeview's Don Richards Memorial Stadium.
"They're very physical," Monz said of the 3-1 Mustangs. "It jumps right off the film when you watch them play. They have a great coach and a great coaching staff. They are very disciplined and they make very few mistakes and play very hard."
That great coach Monz eluded to is coaching legend Bill Bohren, who coached Big Red back in the 1970s.
With decades of experience getting their opponent ready, the Dons know they have to be ready for a team looking to bounce back from its first loss, which came at the hands of 4-0 Edison last Saturday.
"With a coach like Bill Bohren, he's got so much experience and has them so disciplined, I expect him to have them fully ready," Monz said. "It doesn't matter if they won or lost the week before or who they're playing, he's going to have them ready and they're very consistent."
Coming into the season, Madonna had a lot of new pieces on offense, and so far they've fit together like a puzzle.
Lucas McAllister, the Dons sophomore QB, is leading the way. He had three passing TDs against Bridgeport and rushed for another after throwing for five scores in the opener.
"Overall I think the kids have really bought into what we're trying to do," Monz said. "We're eager and I think our youth, it can be a blessing or a curse, has helped. Sometimes when you come in and have older kids, they can be stuck in their ways and have bad habits. These guys are so young that we are able to install some things and work with them, and they are really buying in.
"It's been working."
The defensive side of the ball has impressed the Madonna grid boss since the first scrimmage, and that has continued as they have allowed just six points in two games.
"I really like our defense," Monz said. "Last week (against Bridgeport) was a challenge for them and this week will be, too, because Mathews runs an unorthodox style of offense. It's like a Wing-T hybrid is what I would call it. We have to be on our toes.
"On top of their offense, we have be ready for their physicality, and we're going on the road, so there are a lot of obstacles that we have to be ready for."