POTSDAM — Something was off for the St. Lawrence Valley Trailblazers when they played the Utica Yard Dogs last Saturday. So it's a good thing the game was halted before halftime due to lightning with the Trailblazers down 7-0.

"They knew they were a much better team than what was on the field, and we really didn't get things going until late in the second quarter," said head coach Mike Britton of his team. "Maybe it was a blessing in disguise that we had the game suspended so that we can regroup ourselves. It just seemed like nobody was really into the game."

This Saturday they have a tougher task against Troy's Fighting Irish in another Northeastern Football Alliance matchup tonight in Potsdam. Both teams are 1-1 overall, but only St. Lawrence Valley truly won a game on the field. Troy received a forfeit from Southern Tier Diesel when it couldn't field enough players.

"That's not anything given to (Troy) in all reality," Britton said. "They don't look as big as we are, but we know that with the talent and the quickness they have, they've been successful."

Most of Troy's quickness comes from the receivers. The Fighting Irish threw for two touchdowns and 225 yards in their season opener. Pleasant Rowe led the team with four catches for 115 yards and a touchdown.

"We know that they like to throw the ball a lot more than the teams we've faced already," Britton said. "So we've been working a little bit more on our pass defense this week."

The Trailblazers can also throw, but Britton said he wants to establish the run game first before letting quarterback Ryan Mason air it out.

"We've tried to open up our running game," he said. "Even though we have a double tight end set, we'll probably be motioning a lot more than we have in the past."

Last week, a similar game plan left running back Andy Deon feeling a bit queasy before the opening kick.

"My nerves were flaring that day," he said. "It was just one of those pregame things. This week we're working on controlling the ball with a lot of it on the ground again."

Deon, who was the go-to back in the home opener two weeks ago against Glove City, has put his nerves behind him and wants the ball come Saturday.

"I'd like to get a lot of carries," he said. "We're capable of moving the ball as long as we control up front."

That strategy worked when Deon rushed for 51 yards on nine carries against Glove City.