No one expected a ride down Easy Street for the La Conner Braves in Concrete on Friday night.

Quite the opposite, actually.

A few road bumps were expected as the Braves opened their 2015 grid campaign against the defending league champions in a pairing of longtime rivals all the more crucial since the NW2B has been allotted just one State playoff berth this year.

Turns out, the only potholes jolting the Braves were ones the team bus hit en route to the Lion’s den, where La Conner paved the way for a quick start to the league title race with a convincing 40-23 triumph.

La Conner signal cal...