Braves open grid campaign Friday at Wolverines

The La Conner High football team will have its work cut out for it on Labor Day weekend.

The Braves, under new head coach Peter Voorhees, open the 2016 grid campaign on the road against NW2B rival Friday Harbor.

Kickoff for the much-anticipated Sept. 2 pairing is set for 6:30 p.m.

Voorhees previously served as offensive coordinator under former La Conner mentor Johnny Lee, who stepped down last summer after having led the Braves to five straight post-season appearances.

Lee compiled a 50-19 mark at La Conner. He left to accept a teaching post with the Sedro-Woolley School District.

Voorhees was the architect of Lee’s multi-set, “fast and furious” attack that posted big numbers in recent seasons. That approach should remain intact, especially with a solid nucleus on offense returning for the Braves.

La Conner welcomes back several All-League performers, including two-way selection Budda Luna, who reached paydirt four times in La Conner’s wild 51-47 playoff loss to perennial State title contender Morton-White Pass last November.

Luna will be joined by veteran line standouts Nick Reese and Cooper Zavala, dual threat rusher/receiver Brady Nelson, quarterback James Hulbert, and a host of young prospects.

Hulbert posted superb numbers in 2015 before being sidelined by a broken collarbone late in the season. He recovered in time to start behind the plate and help lead the La Conner baseball team into the playoffs.

Hulbert looked sharp during summer workouts.

The Wolverines, though young, figure to be improved from a year ago, when La Conner swept the two-game season series by double-figure margins each time.

The Braves routed Friday Harbor 56-14 at home and breezed to a 37-7 triumph on the island.

Garrett Holmes, a University of Oregon alum, returns for a second season at the Friday Harbor helm, having succeeded legendary Wolverines coach Richard Ledford, who transformed Friday Harbor into a small-school power in the early 2000s after having enjoyed a long and successful coaching run in the state of Georgia.