There's a new buzz surrounding the Aquinas football team, and it has little to do with the players themselves.

The Fighting Irish do have some athletes this year. Starting quarterback Brandon Paul, who threw for more than 1,100 yards last season, will return along with their top tackler, David Mysona, who will move from linebacker to defensive end.

But the two most well-known athletes at Aquinas workouts this summer have been the ones holding the clipboards and whistles. Brothers Matt and Tony LeZotte, known in Augusta for their success at Westside High and for their collegiate national title as teammates on the 2004 James Madison team, are now assistant coaches.

"We have these two young, enthusiastic coaches who are passionate about football," Aquinas head coach Bill Tenore said. "They work well with the kids, and football is in their blood."

Tenore runs the team, but he's put Matt in charge of the offense and Tony the defense. Practices become a chess game of brother versus brother, with the entire squad getting the most out of the competitions.

"It's really fun. You get to see stuff from a different aspect (when you're a coach)," Tony LeZotte said. "We feel like we're trying to change the atmosphere here. We're putting in what we did in college, and we're starting to see it trickle down."

The new youth and enthusiasm might not immediately produce wins. Aquinas' already brutal Region 7-A grew even more competitive this year.

Joining traditional powerhouses Lincoln County and Warren County is Washington-Wilkes. All three could be favorites for a state playoff spot this year, leaving the other three teams in the region to fight over the final berth.

"It's definitely a tough football region," Tenore said. "We've made the schedule this year to hopefully get us ready for that."

The Fighting Irish will open the season with three of their first four games on the road. All four games are nonregion contests, but the home opener on Sept. 21 will be a unique experience for the LeZotte brothers. They'll stand on the opposite sideline from Westside and the myriad memories of Patriot football.

"It's definitely going to be special," Tony LeZotte said. "There's a lot of great history there with Westside, and they've been great to us. I can't wait for it."

Reach Billy Byler at (706) 823-3216 or billy.byler@augustachronicle.com.