STEWART — After a couple of tough losses, the Blue Dons are back on track.

Madonna shook off its defeats to Catholic Central and Cameron by going on the road to Beallsville last week and blowing out the Blue Devils to get a key win in the playoff race and more importantly get some confidence back.

“It made for a fun bus ride home,” first-year Madonna head coach John McCune said. “The boys kept putting the work in, even after those two tough losses, so I was just proud of them and proud of the coaching staff for sticking with it and not folding or feeling sorry for ourselves after those two tough losses.”

A big reason for that success last week was the emergence of a rushing attack, helping to balance out the Dons offense.

While freshmen QB Maddox Bowen still accounted for a lot of yards in the win – 231 and four touchdowns to be exact – the Dons ran the ball for 125 yards as a team with three touchdowns.

“The big focus going into last week was trying to establish the run,” McCune said. “I felt like at times we were getting a little too pass-heavy … we moved senior Trent McCartney from center to running back and it looked like he’s been there for quite some time. He’s shifty and quick and he’s just a physical kid.

“With him, Wesley Molish and Matt Geer we feel like we now have a formidable backfield of three guys who can carry the ball, block for each other and try to continue to build the offense. Running is going to continue to be a focus going forward.”

McCartney was the leading rusher in the victory with 70 yards and a score on 13 carries.

This week, Madonna heads even further away from home, making a more than two-hour trek to the Athens, Ohio, area to battle 2-6 Federal Hocking.

While the Lancers are on a four-game losing streak, McCune and company are not looking past them.

“A lot of their losses they have been in the football game,” McCune said of Federal Hocking. “They run some wildcat and spread and they have about four or five really athletic playmakers throughout their offense, and they play defense, too. They’re a small school and play ironman football like us.

“We’ve got to know where those guys are and be able to contain those guys.”

The Lancers, like Madonna, have a forfeit win over Trinity Christian. Their victory on the field came over Belpre in Week 4.

Their losses are to Green, Fairfield Christian, Millersport, Frontier, Linden-McKinley and Manchester.

The trip will also be a challenge for the Dons to overcome.

“We are little concerned about the travel … we’ve got to keep the boys engaged and ready to go throughout the day,” McCune said. “We need a win, we’re not overlooking anyone and we can’t be looking ahead. We’ve got a very formidable Federal Hocking team that’s played a very tough schedule and seen some good football teams so we have to get off the bus ready to go.”

Madonna’s win over Beallsville kept it in the thick of the Class A playoff race. Entering this week, the Blue Dons sit in a playoff spot at No. 12 in the latest rankings, but the race is tight with a lot of teams close in record and computer points. The Dons have big games with Conotton Valley and Oak Glen looming as well.

“They’re all big games at this time of the year,” McCune said. “None of these guys on our team have made the playoffs before. There’s a belief in our locker room that we’re going to do it, we’re going to be there, but saying it and doing it are two different things.

“I’m excited for the senior class to have the opportunity to try and play for a playoff spot. They want it, they really do.”