Wolves back in hunt

Black Hills football recommits during summer workouts

By Gail Wood | The Olympian • Published August 22, 2008

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In sports, winning inspires and losing discourages, corrupting a team's drive to win.

It's always easier for a winner to try again.

And that's what makes the level of intensity and the amount of excitement surrounding the start of a new football season so surprising at the first days of practice at Black Hills High School.

Winners of just two games in each of the past two seasons, The Wolves might be expected to not give it their all. But there was coach Jack Zilla at a recent practice, shouting encouragements to his players, optimistic about an upcoming season.

"This is the best first day of practice we've ever had here," Zilla told his players huddled around him.

"You're in good shape. You've worked hard in the offseason."

That surprising off-season commitment — "We had more guys going to weight lifting than any year since I've been here," senior quarterback Mike Haupert said — is reason enough for the Wolves' optimism. But Zilla has more reasons for hope that this team could be a playoff contender for the first time in three years.

Two big reasons are the return of Cody Peterson and Ben Westrum. Peterson, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound running back, is a mix of speed and power. He rushed for 1,720 yards last season, averaging 6 yards per carry.

Westrum, a 6-foot-7, 280-pound lineman, is the cornerstone to a young offensive line that's taken its lumps the past two seasons.

"We're tired of losing," Westrum said. "We're ready to see some wins."

Peterson and Westrum, both juniors, have been part of a youth movement. Zilla started five freshmen two years ago and seven sophomores last season.

Because of inexperience, Black Hills has struggled through back-to-back 2-7 seasons.

"They've been through the fire the last two years," Zilla said. "They've been refined by fire. I'm going to get smarter in the next couple of years."

Black Hills was close to turning the corner last season. If a handful of plays could have gone the Wolves' way, they might have finished 5-4 and reached the playoffs. A winless Black Hills team midway through the season surprised Aberdeen and defeated a playoff-bound team.