TUMWATER — The players have felt it, and the coaches have seen it.
Where Black Hills is at this time in 2026 compared to this time last fall?
“I feel like our team chemistry has been better than ever,” senior Caden Murphy said. “I feel like we’re ahead of schedule.”
The Wolves have hit the ground running in fall practice, and they have their eyes set on improvement after a two-win campaign in 2025.
“I haven’t been a part of a playoff team at Black Hills, and I think out of all (four) years, this is the year to do it,” Murphy said. “We have a great group out here.”
On paper, the Wolves have the talent and continuity to compete for a postseason spot.
All-league running back and linebacker Marshall Orona returns for his junior season, and he’ll be expected to lead the pack alongside a large senior class.
After spending time under center last fall, Jesse Keith is slated to lead the Black Hills backfield, and Tyson Creekpaum will be a weapon out wide and on the defensive line once again.
Jacob Tinsley, Jaxon Simmons, and Murphy are also among the other seniors who are expected to be major contributors.
Murphy will slide into the left tackle spot on the offensive line, filling the void left by former team captain and 2025 first-team all-leaguer Max Whitehall.
“I feel like this senior class is ready to step right in and just take over,” Black Hills coach Tom Spray said. “It’s gonna be good. I’m excited for them.”
The biggest reason that Black Hills has raced out to a fast start isn’t just because of their experience on the field, though. It’s also because of their experience on the sidelines.
For the first time in this senior class’ high school career, the Wolves will be operating the exact same offense and defense as they did the year before.
When Spray took over in 2023, there was a year of adjustment from the previous coaching staff. In 2024, Spray continued to implement his schemes and style of play, and in 2025, he continued to tinker and re-fine them.
Starting this year off quick wasn’t just a nice surprise for Black Hills, it was an expectation going in based on what they knew they were bringing back.
“I expect us to be faster and faster starting every year,” Spray said. “Because we’re doing what we already know how to do … We’ll know what to expect, we know that’s gonna be coming from our coaches, and we know how to execute it.”
Execution was an issue at times last season. After a Week 1 win, the Wolves lost three games in a row, including a nine-point loss against Eatonville. They split their following two games before losing in overtime against Elma and losing by 10 to Aberdeen in its penultimate game.
“I feel like we’ve missed the bar the past couple years and we’ve dropped some games that we could have won,” Spray said. “We haven’t played as well as we could have in key situations. I expect us to capitalize on those by being more comfortable in our systems. I expect us to be able to handle those pressure situations a little bit better when we get late in games and things are on the line.”
One key unknown will go a long way in determining how much better those late-game situations will go on Friday nights.
While Keith spent time at quarterback in 2025, then freshman backup quarterback James Ross was watching and learning on the bench and in practices. With Keith moving back into the backfield, Ross is slated to take over as QB1 and run Black Hills’ option offense.
“By having Keith fill in, that gave us a year to get James ready,” Spray said. “We have a quarterback that’s been trained in triple option for a couple years now and is looking pretty good.”
Keith will be handing the ball off to the senior-laden backfield of Tinsley, Keith, and Simmons, and Orona is another player who has experience under the lights.
“(Ross) can lean on their authority a little bit,” Spray said. “He has a great supporting cast. They can help put him at ease when things get a little on fire. He’s got plenty of guys around him who have stood in it before and know how to say ‘Hey, just take a deep breath and execute.’”
Ross and the Wolves’ first test will come on Friday at home against North Kitsap before a rematch against Eatonville in Week 2. In Weeks 3 through 6, Black Hills will face four GSHL teams before rounding out the regular season with league matchups against W.F. West, Tumwater, and Aberdeen.
If the Wolves aren’t able to knock off the Bearcats or Thunderbirds, the Week 9 matchup against the Bobcats will likely play a role in determining which EvCo team will compete for a postseason spot.
“I’m just ready to go,” Spray said. “We heap expectations on ourselves, and we’re ready to go out and try to meet them.”
