Tolleson is trying to win its first homecoming game in three years on Friday against Westwood in the final non-region game of the season.

Tolleson is coming off a defeat to Mountain Ridge 43-28 and the team knows what they need to do to get the win.

“We have to focus on our reads, and have our eyes where they need to be,” quarterback Patrick Ortega said.

During Last Friday’s contest, The Wolverines struggled to stop the run against Mountain Ridge, which led to four touchdowns on the ground, and 345 yards on 36 carries.

“We had a bad second and third quarter. The game gets down to blocking and tackling, and we were average,” Coach Jason Wilke said.

Tolleson (2-2) has been great offensively, racking up a total of 151 points through four games.

The Wolverines are led offensively by the duo of Ortega and Andre Johnson. In the game against Mountain Ridge, Ortega was 13-for-23 with 215 passing yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Johnson racked up 134 receiving yards on six catches with one touchdown.

“It gives us confidence when we make big plays. I expect to make big plays,” Johnson said.

Johnson has 529 all-purpose yards this year, with 329 receiving yards and 160 kickoff return yards to add to his repertoire. For the Wolverines, the Ortega and Johnson connection is crucial for the offense.

“[I've] Been with Andre since freshman year, and the more time we spend on the field, the better connections,” Ortega said.

Ortega has accounted for 539 passing yards on the year, seven touchdowns and one interception. He is also accurate with a 50% completion rate and a QB rating of 101.3. Ortega knows the importance of this week for the team.

“We've got to step it up, come out ready to work and learn from our mistakes. We played great against Mesa, but then Mountain Ridge happened. The sky's the limit with this team,” Ortega said.

Westwood (2-3) is looking for revenge after a crushing 54-13 loss last year and a defeat in their previous game against Gilbert, 41-7.

Westwood’s offense, led by the rushing duo of Derrick Horne and Ethan Neeley, is dangerous. The Warriors average 173 rushing yards per game and 60 through the air.

The key for Tolleson will be to stop the run game, having succeeded earlier in the season against Mesa’s dominant running back Kris Jackson, holding him to 104 yards. The team will be looking to replicate that line of scrimmage dominance on Friday.

“We've got to get back to fundamentals, stay disciplined and return to defensive football,” Coach Dan Hopper said.

“Homecoming is a memory game. It is an important game to play,” Wilke said.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Tolleson Union High School.