Sweet Sixteen.

A milestone birthday, for sure. But it has added significance for the La Conner High School football program.

Sweet sixteen is the number of players on the Braves’ preseason roster this year. That’s about twice as many who turned out at this time last August.

Ultimately, head coach Charlie Edwards and his staff were able to cobble together a young group with enough depth – though, barely – to complete its 2022 11-man grid schedule, forging a respectable 2-6 mark given the circumstances.

Edwards, who began his third season at the Braves’ helm when late summer workouts began last Wednesday, is confident the 2023 ranks will grow further as the start of school nears.

Additionally, he and assistants Wil James, Aaron Reinstra, John Agen and Troy Olason are encouraged knowing the Braves can count on six seniors, the most La Conner has been able to call upon since the abbreviated spring 2021 campaign when Jeff Scoma – now at Stanwood – led the team to a 4-1 record.

Coupeville, which went 7-2 a year ago to capture the NW2B crown and secure a state playoff berth, did so with a veteran battle-tested lineup, Edwards reminded the Weekly News on Thursday.

“Coupeville had more seniors last year than we had players,” he noted.

The Braves’ senior group includes dynamic returning quarterback Ivory Damien and state hurdles champion Tommy Murdock.

“We’ll want to create open space for Ivory and Tommy and take advantage of their athleticism,” said Edwards, whose offensive approach will be to simplify sets and formations.

“We’re working on fundamentals,” he said. “What we want to do this year is have a few plays that we run really well and then add some more plays as we go along.”

Damien was able to move the Braves through the air and on scrambles last season. Junior C.J. Edwards was a key receiver for Damien out of the backfield and showed he could both run between the tackles and get to the edge. His workload is likely to increase this season.

It helps, too, that the team has experience in the trenches with seniors Kenai Zimmerman and Oscar Soto ticketed for duty upfront on both sides of the ball. Alex Martin and Isaiah Miller, also seniors, will get plenty of snaps as well.

“Isaiah was a jack of all trades for us last year,” Edwards said. “He played some linebacker, offensive line and running back.”

Brent Bobb, Jaydin Clark, Austin McClure and Nathan Bailey are also being counted on to make solid contributions for the Braves, who closed out 2022 with a 56-6 romp at Lummi, a game in which McClure scored a TD.

La Conner opens the season at perennial state 2B title contender Morton/White Pass on Sept. 2.

The Braves’ home opener is a Sept. 8 non-league test with Evergreen of Seattle.

Successive NW2B matchups with Friday Harbor Sept. 14, and at Coupeville Sept. 22 follow. La Conner has rematches at Friday Harbor Oct. 13 and with Coupeville Oct. 20 in the second half of the season.

The mid-season schedule features a non-league Sept. 29 visit to Bellingham and Oct. 7 matinee home date with Mabton.

Edwards, while lamenting the loss of assistant Ari Landworth from last year’s staff, was pleased to have fellow La Conner alums James, Reinstra and Agen alongside when practices kicked off.

“It’s great having these alums here,” said Edwards. “I love the passion and intensity that they bring.”

Edwards said the camaraderie between coaches and players has paid dividends well ahead of scoreboards and field lights being turned on.

“When the kids understand that care for them,” Edwards explained, “they play harder.”