Onward and upward.
Cochrane High School Cobras football team booked their place in the Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association (ASAA) Tier 3 Provincial Championship game with a convincing 41-17 victory over Rundle College Cobras on Nov. 21 at Spray Lake Sawmills Legacy Field.
After a shaky quarter-final performance against Cardston High School Cougars on Nov. 14, Cobras showed their stuff, making sure they didn’t make it hard on themselves this time around.
The provincial semi-final match-up, played before a large crowd, who braved the freezing weather, got off to a fast-paced start as Cobras scored a touchdown off their first drive of the game through wide receiver Dawson Price, after a pinpoint pass from quarterback Tae Gordon.
Cobras led the game 7-0 going into the second quarter, until Rundle managed to tie things up. Cobras responded immediately as slotback Erik Nusl scored a TD after a handoff from Gordon, but linebacker Ethan Forrest was unable to score off the kick conversion making it 13-7. Gordon again stepped up with a TD as he led the Cobras onslaught, giving the home side a 19-7 advantage with 2:44 remaining in the second. Rundle managed to claw back in the final two minutes, and the two sides broke for half-time with the score at 19-17.
In the third quarter, both teams cancelled each other out, as defence was the name of the game. Cobras made the only breakthrough as slotback Zach Rabe scored and Forrest converted the kick to expand the lead to 26-17 going into the fourth quarter.
Forrest scored a TD at the start of the fourth as Cobras dominated the game. Rundle never looked capable of mounting a comeback, and Gordon scored his second TD of the game to rub salt in the visitors’ wounds.
“We played very well,” said Rob McNab, Cobras co-head coach and offensive coordinator. “We were prepared for Rundle and our kids showed up to play. Defensively, I thought we did well, especially in the second half.”
Cobras now face Holy Rosary High School Raiders from Lloydminster. Raiders, who beat St. Albert Skyhawks 28-0 in the other semi-final, were last year’s Tier 4 provincial champions.
“They are going to be tough,” McNab said. “They’ve got good athletes and good coaches.”
Does the fact that Cobras have never played Raiders before make McNab nervous?
“Sure, we’re a little worried about the unknown,” McNab said. “However, we will be preparing for them the same way we have for every other team we’ve faced.
“We just need to put in some good practices this week, watch some film, and get our guys ready.”
The provincial final, is set to be played in Edmonton, at Foote Field, on Nov. 28. Kick-off is 11 a.m.
