TUMWATER — Officially, Black Hills took a step back last season. The Wolves won one fewer game last fall than they did in 2024, and they missed out on a postseason berth for the third year in a row.
But throughout coach Tom Spray’s second season at the helm, the foundation was being laid for what the Wolves hope is a breakthrough in Year 3.
Here are three takeaways from one of Black Hills’ practices from earlier in the week.
Another year under the system
Throughout his first two years leading the program, Spray installed and adjusted his system as the team went.
Entering 2026, the Wolves are now playing the exact same offense and defense as they were in 2025, a difference that has shown throughout the first week-plus of practice.
“The systems are in now,” Spray said. “I expect us to really just be faster and faster, because we’re doing what we already know how to do.”
Youth under center
Sophomore James Ross is getting reps at quarterback in practice, and he’s expected to be QB1 come next Friday night against North Kitsap.
Ross was a backup on the varsity team last year as a freshman, learning as a sponge on the bench. He has experience running the type of offense Spray wants to run, though, and he has the support of Spray and his teammates.
“We have a quarterback that’s been trained in the triple option for a couple of years now, and he’s looking pretty good,” Spray said.
Chasing perfection
At the conclusion of practice, Spray chatted with his team about “chasing perfection.”
He acknowledged, of course, that as humans, they will not be perfect on a consistent basis. But he did say that the goal is to “touch it.”
He saw it a few times on the practice field on Tuesday, and he’s hoping that those glimpses will be seen on Friday nights throughout the fall.
