Spikers and girls’ soccer also win
The La Conner Braves used a crushing ground-and-pound attack to defeat the Charles Wright Academy Tarriers in eight-man football action at Whittaker Field Friday night.
La Conner improved to 4-2 under first-year head coach Kirk Melton with a convincing 48-24 triumph over Charles Wright, much to the delight of a large Senior Night home crowd.
Sophomore running back Yandel Rosales-Rojas led the Braves by rushing for 269 yards, four touchdowns and a two-point conversion. Defensively, the versatile Rosales-Rojas recorded four tackles, one behind the line of scrimmage, and intercepted a pass.
As a team, La Conner amassed 559 yards total offense, all but four the result of the Braves’ dominant run game.
Rosales-Rojas got the Braves on the scoreboard early. He capped La Conner’s first possession with a 45-yard scoring jaunt less than three minutes into the game. His conversion blast extended the Braves’ edge to 8-0.
The Tarriers briefly drew close, narrowing La Conner’s lead to 8-6 when Charles Wright signal caller Everett Johnson completed a four-yard TD pass to TyTy Li with 2:27 left in the opening frame.
The visitors would get no closer.
The Braves stretched the margin to 16-6 on a one-yard touchdown blast by sophomore Duron Clark at the 11:11 mark of the second quarter. La Conner led 24-6 at intermission following a 46-yard Rosales-Rojas run to paydirt and Benny Allen’s two-point conversion plunge.
True to their name, the Tarriers were slow getting started.
The Tacoma area team scored three straight second half touchdowns to pull within 30-24 with 9:55 to play. The Tarrier comeback featured a 41-yard Jaiden Brokens punt return for a score bookended by a pair of Johnson touchdown tosses. But Rosales-Rojas responded to the threat courtesy of a stirring 83-yard TD dash with 9:39 remaining.
Rosales-Rojas and La Conner quarterback Keaton Bailey each added late insurance scores.
Allen joined Rosales-Rojas in triple-digit rushing, finishing with 101 yards, a TD and a pair of conversion runs. On defense, he notched a sack and tackle for loss.
The La Conner stop department forced five Charles Wright Academy, a key factor in the outcome. Rosales-Rojas and Brent Bobb each picked off a pass, Kason Williams recovered two fumbles, and Austin McClure also had a fumble recovery for the victors.
Max Page, who handled kicking duties for the Braves, racked up a pair of tackles.
La Conner, on a two-game winning streak, resumes play at 1 p.m. this Saturday at Quilcene.
Volleyball
The La Conner volleyball team also continued its winning ways last week by sweeping non-league foe Sultan and NW2B/1B rival Coupeville. With the twin wins, the Braves took a 13-5-1 record into their Oct. 21 conference match at Friday Harbor.
Several La Conner players filled the stat sheet during the Braves’ 25-22, 25-23, 25-19 triumph at Coupeville on Oct. 16.
Nora McCormick finished with five kills, three service aces, 12 digs and a block. Maeve McCormick had 24 digs, 11 kills, a block and an ace.
Libero Addie Keller delivered six aces, 20 digs and an assist. Reese Bird posted 22 digs, seven assists and six blocks.
Rory Bird chipped in five digs and two kills, Isla Jones added six digs and an ace, Isabelle Villard chipped in three digs and a kill, and Madi Larson logged a dig.
For head coach Pam Keller’s charges, it was complete team victory over the defending league champions as Julia Nelson and Mia DeLage contributed to winning rallies during the three-set (25-22, 25-23, 25-19) contest.
The Braves, winners in 13 of their past 15 matches, host Orcas Island at 4 p.m. Thursday and Sedro-Woolley at 6 p.m. Oct. 29.
Girls’ soccer
The Braves’ girls’ soccer team also landed in the Winner’s Circle last week thanks to a 2-1 home triumph over Lopez Island on Oct. 14 and a 5-0 shutout victory Oct. 16 against Providence Classical Christian in Bothell.
Maicy Bowles and Finley Hancock scored La Conner’s goals in its match with Lopez, avenging a 1-0 Sept. 18 loss on the island.
Kiana Jenkins paced head coach Leslie Swanson’s crew with two goals at Providence Classical Christian. Bowles, Hancock, and Yami Ocampo-Contreras also found the net for the Braves.
La Conner, sporting a 6-4-1 overall record, entertains Friday Harbor at 4 p.m. Thursday and Orcas Island at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 28.
Boys’ soccer
The Braves’ boys’ soccer squad will look to rebound after being blanked last week by NW2B/1B powers Friday Harbor and Mount Vernon Christian. Head coach Galen McKnight’s team, which had won its previous three matches, fell 8-0 at Friday Harbor on Oct. 15 and 6-0 at Mount Vernon Christian in an Oct. 17 pairing.
La Conner (4-6-1) had a Wednesday home clash with Lopez Island and travels to Orcas Island Friday for another 4 p.m. conference pairing.
Bill Reynolds is a general assignment reporter for La Conner Community News.
