Braves on a roll, travel to Napavine unbeaten

Homecoming is typically the time to rekindle favorite memories.

That being the case, the La Conner High football team treated alumni and fans to a win on Friday that won’t soon be forgotten.

La Conner remained unbeaten with a near perfect 54-0 NW2B triumph over Friday Harbor — thus sweeping their two-game season series — before a large and supportive Homecoming crowd gathered at Whittaker Field.

With its fifth straight lopsided victory, La Conner has now outscored foes 274-20 going into a much anticipated Oct. 14 non-conference clash at Southwest power Napavine.

“That will be a big test for us,” acknowledges La Conner head coach Peter Voorhees, “but it’s why we play. The goal is to get better each and every week.”

You’ll get little argument from Friday Harbor that the Voorhees approach is working.

La Conner opened the season with a convincing 56-14 defeat of Friday Harbor on the island.

Last week’s Homecoming rout, La Conner’s third shutout win in a row, provided ample evidence the Braves are, if anything, getting better.

Team chemistry has much to do with La Conner’s dynamic play, according to Voorhees.

“The kids are still playing well,” he notes, “and they’re committed to doing things the right way. They don’t take any plays off. They’ve really bought in to what we’re doing.”

Especially those in leadership roles.

“The biggest thing that stands out for me,” Voorhees says, midway through the 2016 campaign, “is our seniors. They really care about each other and the team’s success.”

There was little doubt La Conner’s return match with the Wolverines would be successful.

The Braves scored early and often on Friday.

La Conner bolted to a 28-0 first quarter lead behind three touchdown runs by Budda Luna and another from Kaden Murdock.

The hosts extended their lead to 41-0 at the break behind a pair of James Hulbert TD passes, one to Kolbe Rasler and the other to Luna.

Murdock and Brady Nelson capped the La Conner juggernaut with third period scoring dashes.

Luna finished with 109 yards rushing on just four carries. Murdock added 87 yards on nine carries.

Hulbert was efficient in the pocket, completing seven of 11 passes for 112 yards. He also ran four times for 62 yards.

Nelson netted 49 yards on four attempts, including the 29-yard TD dash that closed out La Conner’s scoring.

As a team, the Braves compiled 418 yards total offense.

For all La Conner’s dominance, the final margin could have been wider still.

“We had a couple scores called back because of penalties,” Voorhees says, “but those are things we’ll work to clean up.”

In the meantime, the Braves hope to keep cleaning up on the opposition.

Starting with Napavine.

“Having a three-hour bus ride will be a challenge for us,” says Voorhees, “but this group has what it takes to handle a long trip like that.”

After all, this is a La Conner team already looking like it could go places come November.

In related notes:

• Nick Reece led the Braves’ stop unit with four solo tackles. Cooper Zavala, James Hulbert, Nelson, Jeffrey Johnson, Michael Page, Murdock, Rasler, Luna, Fabian Brooks, Darren George, and Terrance Fornsby also recorded unassisted stops for La Conner, which held Friday Harbor well under the Century Mark in total offense.

• The Braves have developed valuable depth in the midst of their five-game winning streak. Against Friday Harbor, Fornsby filled in ably for injured wideout and defensive back Jeremiah Williams. Williams is expected out several weeks with a broken collarbone. Up front, injured starting lineman Harley Hulbert gave way to Geoffrey McGaughey, who did yeoman work at right guard and defensive end. “Those guys (Fornsby and McGaughey) went in,” Voorhees says, “and did a tremendous job for us.”