Cochrane High Cobras football star receiver Dawson Laye signed with the University of Regina Rams football team on April 11.
"It was great signing with them now I don’t have to stress about football and just getting signed anymore," Laye said of signing with the team. "Their recruiting process was fun, they invited me to spring camp and they really liked me offering me a scholarship. I had been talking to the coach before their spring camp as well."
With former Cobras Kyle Moortgat and Adam Rask already on the Rams roster and Bryce McKinnon recently graduating from the program, Cobras co-head coach Rob McNab said there is a very strong connection between the two teams.
"There's definitely a good connection. Since Bryce McKinnon went out there and did his five years, all of it being positive - we had Adam and Kyle follow suit. We feel very comfortable sending our kids there because they stay there," McNab said.
"They aren't one and dones, they enjoy it, they get summer jobs and they all have success at whatever level they want to be at. It's a good fit for Dawson and I'm pretty excited about that."
"The program is getting better, they're getting more competitive year-in and year-out, they're putting guys into the Canadian Football League (CFL) and I think a big reasons is Mark McConkey. He's the offensive co-ordinator there ... he's from Calgary, he played his high school football here before going to the University of Regina but he's very familiar with Calgary and surrounding football. He knows that there's good football here as well as in Saskatchewan so they want to try and get their share out of Alberta as well."
Laye helped the Cobras go undefeated throughout the season, going 6-0 in league play, and 3-0 in the provincial tournament to capture their fifth straight Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association (ASAA) provincial championship after defeating the Holy Rosary Raiders 25-8 in the final game.
The Cobras scored an astounding 391 points over the course of those nine games, averaging just over 40 points per game while only allowing 79 points over the course of the season, an average of just over eight points per game. Laye was one of the six recipients for team MVP while also being named a league all-star.
The young receiver said playing for Cochrane High was beneficial for him to help reach his goal of playing university football.
"They were very crucial to my success," he said. "I wouldn't be nowhere close to as good as I am now without this program. The ultimate goal is to play as far as I can and maybe one day make the CFL. My goal (at the University of Regina) is to make the travelling squad in year two and hopefully start my third year."
"He's just a great athlete. Offence, defence, special teams, he can do anything ... it doesn't really matter. He's formed a good relationship with the sport of football," McNab said of Laye's progression throughout his time at Cochrane High.
"His football knowledge is getting very advanced, especially in the passing game which is nice ... he's a great leader, he's a good kid and he's worked hard in both football and school which has given him the chance to move onto the USports level."
