Patagonia football is looking good this year. After making state playoffs last year, for the first time in 10 years, they're not resting on their laurels. The Lobos worked out this summer, and some have added considerable weight. The bench is deeper, and there's a new head coach calling the plays. Jim Paul, a football coach with considerable experience and a winning record, took on Lobos football this season. Paul, who used to coach at Nogales High, became Lobos head basketball coach last year, and knows some of the players already.

Lobos' running back David Soto, center, looks for a hole after taking the handoff from quarterback Adam Acevedo, left, during practice Wednesday at Patagonia Union High School.

Last season

Brian Mackenzie coached the team last season. He will stay on the staff as an assistant, but Paul was asked to step in because of his extensive experience.

Last season, under Mackenzie, the team tied for third place in its Class 1A conference with Gila Bend and Ajo, won the tiebreaker, and went to state competition.

The team doubled from an average of 12 players last season, Mackenzie said. They already have 24 signed up this season.

"Now that school has begun, we're recruiting heavily and trying to break the 30 barrier," he said.

It makes a difference in eight-man football. With only 12 players, most of the linebackers have to play offense and defense.

"We had good teams, but our guys got worn out because the other teams had 30 or 40 guys. They just keep subbing you until fatigue sets in, they beat you," Mackenzie said.

This season

This season looks promising, and everything looks good to Mackenzie, he said. "We have great coaching. We have a lot of players with a potential for greatness, and we hope to go deep into the playoffs this year."

This season rests on the shoulders of Jim Paul, a head coach familiar with Patagonia. "I coached basketball last year, and really had an enjoyable season with these kids. The kids are great here, very coachable. They hustle - give you 110 percent and more."

They had an opening, Paul said, and he has been a football coach his whole career. "The kids really wanted me to come out. They needed an experienced person ... I had to tackle eight-man football for the first time in my career."

Paul coached the Nogales Apaches to multiple victories, and one outstanding 10-2 season. He took Wade Carpenter to victory against Desert Shadows nine out of the last 10 games in the annual rivalry.

"I started working last spring adjusting my 11-man offense to their 8-man offense here," Paul said.

Paul is looking for improvement over last season, he said. "I'm going to give them more structure, and they can see that already. More structure, and that they know what they're doing on all facets of the game - offensive, defensive and the kicking game. It's going to be more information for them than they've ever gotten here, and they're liking it."

The team looks in good shape after a summer break, Paul said. "I don't think any kids really condition over the summer as much as in the past, but a lot of them passed our first day test, so I was impressed with that. Some of them must have been in the weight room, and running."

Assistant coaches

Mackenzie is joined by John Benedict, Don Landa and Justin Bennett as assistant coaches. Bennett, a former lineman and 2008 PUHS graduate, is attending University of Arizona, and returns for football practice and games because he loves football, Bennett said. "I do love the game. Actually, I love the team, I love Patagonia. I love everything about it. It's a good hustle. Eight-man football is the way to go."

Bennett was part of the team that made the state playoffs last year, and said this year's Lobos look better. "They look great - height, weight, speed; everything is at the top of the game this year. I have high hopes for this team. That's why I'm here."

Bennett is majoring in public health at U of A. He received offers to play from ASU, but they didn't have the courses he wanted, Bennett said.

First game

The Lobos first game is Aug. 28 at Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind / St. Augustine at 2 p.m.

Paul has a few weeks to prepare, but he likes what he sees already.

"Overall, I think that we're going to improve on last year's record, and I think it's a given we're going to do that," he said. "We're going to go as far as we can in state."