Unbeaten Tumwater hosts Black Hills on Friday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. in a 2A Evergreen Conference district game between Tumwater School District rivals.

The Thunderbirds (5-0) have won every game by at least 20 points. The Wolves (2-2) bring a two-game winning streak after an 0-2 start.

Tumwater is ranked No. 6 in Washington by MaxPreps and has outscored opponents 253-43 through five games. No game has been close. The closest was a 41-10 win at Liberty on Sept. 4. The most recent was a 55-14 rout at Mark Morris on Oct. 2, in which Tumwater scored 39 unanswered points, according to The Daily News of Longview.

Head coach Willie Garrow entered his fourth year at Tumwater with a 39-4 career record, according to The Olympian's preseason preview. The Thunderbirds reached three consecutive Class 2A state championship games from 2023 to 2025, finishing as state runner-up last season at 12-2. Tumwater had also won 10 straight home games entering the 2026 season.

"These guys are Squad 66, and this is their season, no bearing on what happened a year ago," Garrow told The Olympian in August.

Senior Grady Wall, the third Wall brother to play for the Thunderbirds, handles multiple roles at running back, safety and linebacker. He tallied six rushing touchdowns, 94 tackles, an interception and a kickoff return for a touchdown in 2025, earning TNT All-Area all-purpose honors, according to The Olympian's preseason preview.

The Wolves opened the season with losses to North Kitsap (38-16) and Eatonville (41-7) but have found their footing. Quarterback James Ross IV rushed for 150 yards and a touchdown on seven carries in a 39-14 win over Hudson's Bay on Sept. 25, including an 83-yard run. Jesse Keith added 112 total yards and a touchdown. Black Hills then led Hockinson 39-3 after three quarters in a 39-23 victory on Oct. 2.

Last season, Tumwater beat Black Hills 63-13 in their district meeting.

Both teams have two games before the district matchup. Tumwater hosts Ridgefield on Friday, Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m., then travels to Aberdeen on Oct. 16. Black Hills visits Mark Morris on Friday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. and hosts W.F. West on Oct. 16.