Braves close out season with win

It was a case of less is more when the eight-man La Conner High School football team closed out its season at Lummi Nov. 1.

The Braves (2-6) exceeded their prior season point total with an explosive 56-6 non-conference victory.

La Conner, which normally plays an 11-man format, had just four days to prepare for this contest.

Looking to end a rebuilding year on a positive note, the Braves had little trouble adjusting to the quick turnaround and eight-man game.

"It was a fun game to be a part of," head coach Charlie Edwards said afterward. "Everyone got a good deal of playing time, and the pigskin was passed around well."

Quarterback Ivory Damien had his hand in four touchdowns, throwing for two scores – both to receiver C.J. Edwards – and running twice for TDs.

Edwards also ran for one score and connected with Austin McClure on a TD toss.

Edwards also intercepted a pass, as did McClure.

Tommy Murdock added a rushing touchdown, while Isaiah Miller, Jacob Pommels and Isaac Kitchen rounded out the Braves onslaught by each tacking on a two-point conversion.

Kitchen, who had a touchdown reception in the league home defeat to Friday Harbor last month, helped fill the Braves' stat sheet with a forced fumble and fumble recovery.

Lummi's lone score came courtesy of Jerome Tobey, who has extensive family in the Swinomish and La Conner communities.

For coach Edwards, the lopsided win was bittersweet.

"It was sad to see Jacob Pommels play his last game," Edwards said, "but it was great to have Scott Cayou there for his last game. He didn't get to play all season due to injury, but he's still a huge part of the team. His senior leadership was missed on the field."

The Braves will return 17 players – nearly their entire roster – for the 2023 season, which bodes well for the future. The team this fall rebounded from three straight shutout losses to open the season before winning with a 30-6 victory at Charles Wright Academy.

After falling 67-18 to Friday Harbor and being blanked by Coupeville and Ilwaco, the Braves finished with a huge win.

The next step, of course, will be to play deeper in November –

as in post-season action – going forward.