Rain and Coupeville combine to dampen Braves Homecoming

Neither La Conner nor Coupeville had enough healthy players to field teams the week before meeting at Whittaker Field on Friday.

Unfortunately for the Braves, the visitors were able to heal fast and lay a big hurt on a young and rebuilding team that suffered its fourth consecutive shutout loss, falling 46-0 on Homecoming Night.

“We played a better second half,” said head coach Charlie Edwards, lamenting that his club gave up six touchdowns before intermission.

“We just have to remember our assignments, tackle better and that we can’t take on everyone at the shoulders,” he stressed.

It was costly early turnovers that did in La Conner. One of those miscues was especially injurious – a long interception return for a touchdown by Coupeville’s Daylon Houston.

All told, the home team turned the ball over four times, including on its first two possessions, giving the Wolves the short field and setting up their vaunted ground game.

Coupeville’s Scott Hilborn and Dominic Coffman each rushed for two touchdowns in the first half. Jonathan Valenzuela ran for another Wolves’ TD before the break.

Hilborn tacked on Coupeville’s lone score in the second half with his third touchdown run of the night.

The Braves struggled to generate any offense. Coupeville didn’t yield a first down until the final minute of the first quarter, by which time the game’s outcome was little in doubt.

Edwards afterward praised his team, which has struggled with injuries all season, for never giving up despite facing long odds each week. He singled out seniors Haydin Dinius and Jahrel Cayou, both of whom are two-way starters, for their efforts.

“They are two of the best seniors a coach could ask for,” said Edwards.

With the win, Coupeville improved to 2-1 in NW2B play. Both its league triumphs have come at La Conner’s expense. They won 51-0 in a Sept. 24 meeting in Coupeville.

La Conner, 0-3 in conference action, resumes its league schedule this Friday (6:30 p.m.) at NW2B front-runner Friday Harbor.

The Wolverines (2-0 in league) blanked La Conner 63-0 here on Sept. 17.