Between the wind and Brandon Young, Coupeville had enough to overcome on the football field Thursday night.
Gusty winds that almost negated the passing game and a healthy dose of Young, LaConner’s star running back, were a huge factor in Coupeville’s 20-10 loss to the seventh-ranked Braves (4-1 in league, 8-1 overall) in the final game of the Wolves (1-4, 3-6) season.
“The wind was a big factor, We wanted to throw the ball – that’s a big part of our offense – and we couldn’t going into the wind,” said Wolves head coach Ron Bagby after the game. “LaConner’s a ranked team and you can’t make a lot of mistakes against them.”
Coupeville’s players and coaches are probably still seeing the 6-foot-1, 190-pound Young in their sleep. The senior, who entered the game 279 yards shy of the Skagit County single-season rushing record, carried the ball virtually every play for the Braves. He started the contest handling the ball on 11 straight plays and finished the night with 199 yards on the ground.
“I thought that we held him pretty good,” said Bagby. He’s has been getting over 200 yards on most teams. I thought our defense did a great job.”
Young put the Braves on the scoreboard first when he bulled in from eight yards out on a fourth-and-6 play midway through the opening quarter.
The wind proved a factor midway through the second quarter.
Facing a fourth down on their own 21, LaConner went for it instead of punting into the wind. Coupeville held and was able to get on the board with a Dustin Van Velkinburgh 27-yard field goal with the wind.
After the field goal LaConner drove down the field and was able to tally a touchdown seconds before halftime.
The Braves called a rare pass play and scored on a 4-yard connection from quarterback Tyler Dubuque to wideout Tony Decker, making the score 13-3 at halftime.
Coupeville put together a solid series on its opening drive of the second half. Behind the running of junior Daniel McDonald, who had 101 yards for the game, the Wolves drove down to the Braves’ 3-yard line. McDonald punched the ball in from there and the score was 13-10.
Coupeville still had a shot in the final quarter. Forcing the Braves into a fourth-and-5 from the Wolves’ 8, LaConner converted when Young came out of the backfield and caught a touchdown pass from Dubuque for the final score of the game.
The Wolves defense was paced by a trio of senior defenders, Joe Kelley (19 tackles), Mike Smart (16), and Schuyler Porter (12) who played their last game in the black and red.
“Not quite enough. That has been the story of our season,” said Bagby after the game. “I was really proud of the way our seniors played. They deserved more than they got, but they played hard every game, and I hate to lose them. Hopefully they will be able to take some good memories away from this year.”
By the numbers
LaConner — 7 6 0 7 — 20
Coupeville — 0 3 7 0 —10
1st quarter
L— Young 8 yard run (kick good)
2nd quarter
C — Van Velkinburgh 27 yard field goal
L — Decker 4 yard pass from Dubuque (conversion failed)
3rd quarter
C — McDonald 3 yard run (Van Velkinburgh kick)
4th quarter
L — Young 8 yard pass from Dubuque (kick good)
