Empire Football League

ST. LAWRENCE VALLEY: Move to co-coaching format gives suffering squad boost for season

By MAX DELSIGNORE

TIMES SPORTSWRITER

Sunday, July 08, 2007

POTSDAM — When Jim Compeau and Mike Britton were voted co-head coaches of the St. Lawrence Valley Trailblazers in January, they were eager for the opportunity to guide the franchise together in hopes of ushering in a new era.

After serving as the team's offensive coordinator for the past two seasons, Compeau couldn't wait to introduce a fresh defensive scheme and blitz package as the team's head defense and special teams coach.

Britton was relieved about being able to share the responsibilities after the Trailblazers stumbled to another winless campaign in 2006. Now, he can concentrate solely on his specialty — generating touchdowns and scoring points — as the team's head offensive coach.

The two football enthusiasts want to see St. Lawrence Valley succeed in the Empire Football League. Following five years of frustration, Compeau aimed to immediately change the program's course beginning in the preseason. He introduced a military workout similar to the training he received as a sergeant in the Army's 82nd Airbone Division in Fort Bragg, N.C. The regimen was centered around building speed, agility and stretching muscles the players didn't know existed.

"The players were starting to struggle a little bit at the end of games," Compeau said. "We needed to pick that intensity up.

"They were groaning and moaning. But they came up to me and actually thanked me. Some said it's the best shape they've been in in years."

Since the active roster currently has just over 30 players, several of the team's best athletes will play both ways. Veteran Joe Hutchinson is one of the Trailblazers' top two-way players and could see the results of the rigorous training in their preseason victory over Glove Cities on June 30.

"The more the game went on, the more prepared and rested I felt," Hutchinson said. "I was definitely less tired than I was last year, and we need to get as much as we can out of everyone."

Hutchinson is just one of a group of core players that's kept St. Lawrence Valley afloat in the EFL. Compeau's son, James, told his father that he wanted to participate in as many plays as possible this year. Everyone has matched James's motivation from the opening jog to the final sprints in practice.

But the most enjoyable sight is that all the negative banter from last year has ceased.

"It's a total switch," Jim Compeau said. "You don't hear the grumbling and mumbling. You don't hear the pessimistic attitude. Somewhere you have to draw a line in the sand. If you don't, then it's just a mess."

Not only is the team more relaxed, but Britton is as well. He said he went through a pensive period following the death of his mother, Rose, just before Christmas and his aunt, Anna Marie, five weeks later. He was able to figure out his purpose for directing this team.

"This game belongs to the players," Britton said. "We're not going after a championship. We want to make this a fun game."

Britton responded to his own analogy by decreasing the number of plays in his intimidating offensive playbook, which seemed to weigh as much as a cinder block.

"I've gone from a Manhattan phone book to St. Lawrence County," Britton said. "It's gone down from 500 some-odd pages to about 120, 150 at the most."

But don't be fooled by Britton's slightly relented stance. He still said the only way the Trailblazers will receive proper recognition is with victories. But he said the team has become a "brotherhood," and every player believes that wins are within their reach.

With Compeau and Britton leading the charge, perhaps this can be St. Lawrence Valley's year.

"They are a lot closer than they were in the past," Compeau said. "The new guys coming in are bringing fuel to the team. It's all gelling very nicely, and I think they'll grow closer as the season goes on."

CRYSTAL CITY 22, ST. LAWRENCE VALLEY 12

Eddie Winfield's 101-yard punt return for a touchdown allowed the Crystal City Dragons to hold off the St. Lawrence Valley Trailblazers in a preseason matchup Saturday at Sandstoner Park in Potsdam.

The Dragons also received 1-yard rushing touchdowns from Bob Morse and Rasheed Snow to build a 14-6 halftime lead. Crystal City's defense forced six turnovers, which included three interceptions against Trailblazers quarterback Dave Currier.

Currier threw for 258 yards a pair of touchdowns to guide the St. Lawrence Valley offense. He connected with Mike Montalvo for a 21-yard score in the first quarter, and tossed a 22-yard touchdown to James Compeau in the third. Eric LaValley hauled in five passes for 68 yards.

The Trailblazers stifled Crystal City's offense in the second half and registered three turnovers. Cheyenne Dashnaw and Ricky Delaney led the way with nine tackles apiece. Compeau and Norm Martel each added eight tackles.

Copyright 2007. Watertown Daily Times, Inc., Watertown, NY. All rights reserved.