Though they may not have been content with their overall performance, the Cochrane High School Cobras football team began their 2022 Rocky View Sports Association (RVSA) season the same way they ended the last six – with a win.
The six-time RVSA championship-defending Cobras travelled to Airdrie on Aug. 27, where they beat the Bert Church Chargers 44-27 at Ed Eggerer Athletic Park.
While the final score favoured the Cobras, the game was a back-and-forth encounter that saw the host Chargers come within seven points of Cochrane with just two minutes left on the scoreboard. The Cobras’ depth and power ultimately shone through, producing a late touchdown and field goal that put the game out of reach for Bert Church.
“It’s the first game out and Bert Church did a great job,” said Cobras’ head coach Rob McNab. “They have a pretty special player over there and some big linemen. It is what it is. We need to get better and we know they’ll get better. Who knows? Maybe we’ll meet in the playoffs.”
Cochrane took a 14-0 lead early into the game, but Bert Church crawled their way back into the contest in the second quarter, tying it up courtesy of some energetic runs and touchdowns from Grade 12 running back Damien Cherry.
The crimson-clad visitors regained their two-touchdown cushion by halftime thanks to a catch-and-run into the end zone by Grade 12 running back Ethan Clazie and a rushing TD by quarterback Christian Golem. The Cobras went into the locker room for the break up 27-14.
“I think what went well today is we didn’t collapse or fold,” McNab said. “We were tired. They beat us up a little bit because they’re bigger, but we just didn’t give up. We kept playing. Some kids made some mistakes, but you’ve just got to have a short memory and keep going.”
It was a low-scoring third quarter – Bert Church’s Grade 12 receiver Charlie Wiersma was the only player to put points on the board, bringing one back for the hosts with a catch-and-run into the end zone down the left side. Since the Chargers’ defence managed to keep the Cobras out of their end zone, it meant the score was 27-21 with just one quarter left to play.
Both teams added TDs to their haul in the final frame. The Cobras capitalized on a defensive penalty from Bert Church to put their o-line into positive field position on their first drive of the quarter, and Clazie scored on a play that made the score 34-21 with just under 10 minutes left on the clock.
But Chargers’ Zack McKillop found space in the end zone on Bert Church's next drive and caught a pass from quarterback Wyatt Cannon, which meant it was 34-27.
“That’s not Cobras football,” said Grade 12 outside linebacker Tate Picard. “We came out with the win, which is good, but I feel we can play way better. We just need to get some guys doing their jobs and fill where we can.”
Showcasing why he was selected for Team Alberta last year, Clazie scored one more touchdown and the Cobras added an insurance field goal in the final two minutes to put the game out of reach for Bert Church.
“He’s going to be a special player, there’s no question,” McNab said of Clazie’s multi-TD performance. “He did a great job on Team Alberta this year and we’re counting on him, and we’re not hiding the fact.”
The perennially strong Cobras are seeking a seventh consecutive RVSA banner this fall, as well as a ninth consecutive provincial Tier 3 Alberta Schools Athletics Association championship. Next up, the team will host the Chestermere Lakers on Sept. 2.
“It’s our first week, we’re sorting things out,” McNab said. “We have a lot of kids and we’ll get it. For a little school, it’s good. We have some good young kids, but our older kids need to step up more.”
