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WEIRTON -- Homecoming is a fitting word for Madonna this week.
Not only is Friday night the night the Blue Dons crown a queen on the eve of Saturday's dance, it's also just the third time Madonna will be playing at home this season after back-to-back road games, playing five of the last six and six of the team's eight games overall away from Jimmy Carey Stadium.
"Our kids are so excited to be at home," Madonna head coach Mauro Monz said. "It's homecoming, and it really is a homecoming for us. We've been road warriors this season. I think the whole community is excited for us to be home these next two weeks.
"We talk to the kids about the process of going through homecoming week daily. The kids are getting fitted for suits and things of that nature. We've reminded them we've got a big game this week ... we've told them to keep their eye on the prize so to speak because the football game itself is a big part of homecoming."
The opponent Monz and company will welcome to Weirton is Wirt County in a battle of two teams with identical 4-4 records and on the outside looking in of the Class A playoff picture. The Blue Dons dropped to No. 23 following their tough loss at Conotton Valley, while the Tigers sit at No. 25.
"We have to match their physicality, it seems like all the teams we play are physical and try to impose their will on you," Monz said. "We feel like the physical teams we've seen so far will help us be ready for that. Conotton Valley was extremely physical.
"Our kids have shown they're willing to go toe-to-toe with teams like that and are learning."
It is yet another in a string of what have been playoff contending opponents as only one of the last seven teams Madonna has faced is not either in the Ohio postseason or in the fight for a spot in West Virginia.
"We've played six playoff teams and they look every bit as good as everyone we've played," Monz said of Wirt County. "They're physical team that can run the ball and play good defense. It's going to be another challenge for us.
"I don't know many teams that have played a schedule like we have. We've played a couple undefeated teams, a couple one-loss teams, some of the top teams in the OVAC. We feel pretty good about the progress we've made from where we started in the off season losing 12 seniors last year to graduation.
"We exceeded some expectations early which maybe increased the expectations this season, but if you told me before the season we would be sitting 4-4 against the teams we've played and having been on the road six out of eight weeks and coming into two home games, I think we'd have been ecstatic."
Wirt County started the season on a four-game win streak, and has since dropped its last four.
One could also think that there is potential for a high-scoring game as the Tigers come in averaging 34.5 points per game, while Madonna is averaging 25.8 per game, led by sophomore quarterback Lucas McAllister's 24 total touchdowns.
On defense, the Tigers are allowing an average of 20.4 points, while the Dons are giving up 21.8.
As Monz alluded to, Madonna will play both of its remaining regular season games at home, as next week it hosts Trinity as well.
"It'd be great for the community and great for the school if we could come out and win these last games at home," Monz said. "There was talk of us not even having a team coming into the season, our numbers were low ... we were up to 23 before injuries and I'm really excited about the way our young guys are playing. The future is bright."
The opening kick Friday night is set for 7 p.m.