The Troy Trojans were able to get a lot of players into the fray during last Saturday’s 65-0 thumping of Alcorn State in the team’s home opener. Head coach Larry Blakeney said that can only bode well for the Trojans’ task of traveling to Columbus, Ohio and taking on the Ohio State Buckeyes.

“We made an early statement, especially defensively and we controlled the game throughout,” Blakeney said. “And we played the twos and threes all through the second half. That was a good thing. It was good for morale and it was good to sit our other guys in preparation for what we are facing.”

Blakeney and the Trojans have to deal with Ohio State coming off a 35-3 defeat at the hands of No. 1-ranked USC last week.

“Ohio State is certainly a very prideful program full of tradition,” Blakeney said. “They are well-coached and they have great personnel, but they just ran into the best football team I believe I have ever seen on the field.”

The Trojans will have to deal with the double-headed quarterback monster from Ohio State in senior Todd Boeckman and freshman Terrelle Pryor.

“We know what Boeckman does and we know what Pryor does, so we have to make our calls and our adjustments based on who is in the game,” Blakeney said. “All defensive calls are set to stop whatever a team does through your techniques and reactions in pursuit. The thing about (Pryor) is he is so much faster to the edge and their offense is much more quarterback run, quarterback draw with him in there.”

The Buckeyes threw both quarterbacks at USC, but the other Trojans had an answer for everything Ohio State did last week. Blakeney said this game would not be a redemption game for Ohio State.

“I know Jim (Tressel) pretty well and I don’t think he is a lose-your-cool guy,” Blakeney said. “I know he will go back and make sure they are doing their bread and butter stuff. They are going to run the power trap. It will be business as usual this week for them and us.”

Troy junior linebacker Bear Woods is ready to get on the field after being held out of the home opener with an injury.

“It was killing me being on the sidelines,” Woods said. “I am itching to get on the field and I cannot wait to get out there Saturday I promise you that. This is the chance of a lifetime and I am up for the challenge.”

Woods and the rest of the Trojans take on the Buckeyes Saturday in Columbus, Ohio. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m.