Kolt Killion works on punt-blocking at practice Wednesday. Special teams is one aspect in which coach Bill Laslett says the Aztecs have improved.

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A framed poster hangs near Pima football coach Bill Laslett's desk. It reads, "Tough times don't last. Tough teams do."

Laslett and his players are trying to follow that credo. Laslett said he hopes the 0-4 Aztecs, who have not scored an offensive touchdown this season and start just four sophomores, can improve each week, stay optimistic and be competitive.

"As a program, we've made great strides since January, but we're still not satisfied," said Laslett, in his first year at Pima. "We don't just want to be competitive. We want to win games."

Laslett notes several players on the 100-man roster are redshirting, allowing them to gain experience and strength for next season.

He said he has been pleased with the progress made by the special teams and the defense, which recovered a fumble and intercepted two passes in last week's 17-0 loss to Phoenix College.

The offense has much more work to do. The Aztecs average 151.5 yards and 2.5 points a game and rank last in the Western States Football League.

They also struggle with running the ball and pass protection. Laslett recently removed offensive coordinator Marc Lunsford, and has been using Pusch Ridge graduate Ryan Morgan or Cholla graduate Cody House at starting quarterback.

Pima will play New Mexico Military at 7 p.m. Saturday at Amphitheater High School.

"I've never played on a team where we've bonded together so well before. We want to play hard and work hard," said Sahuaro graduate Joshua Eikenberry, who ranks second in the WSFL in punting with 41.6-yard average.

Other sports

● The 24th-ranked men's and the sixth-ranked women's cross country teams compete in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference championship on Friday in Mesa.

"Craig Curley, on a great day, can win the conference meet," coach Greg Wenneborg said. "He's a big underdog. We hope he's second. For the girls, it would be awesome to place all five in the top 15."

The Pima women won the Mesa Thunderbird Cross Country Classic last week.

Ellen Mork (Flowing Wells) and Haley Heaps placed first and second. The men finished third. Carlos Rybeck was the Aztecs' top finisher. He was fourth.

● The No. 12 men's soccer team (8-1) won seven straight heading into Wednesday's game and was in second place in the ACCAC entering the second half of league play.

Midfielder Griffen Roxbury (Mountain View) leads the team in points with 17, and forward Polo Villaseñor (Tucson) is first in goals with six.

● Soccer player Anita Molina (Mountain View) won ACCAC Player of the Week honors.

Molina had two goals and an assist in the Aztecs' 7-0 triumph over South Mountain on Saturday.

Pima (4-3) is fourth in the league standings.

● The volleyball team (3-4) was seventh in the ACCAC before Wednesday's match.

Libero Hayley Fox is second in the league in digs at 4.9 per game, and setter Katy Marsh is third in assists at 10.1.