The Bow Valley Bobcats may not get to defend their historic provincial championship title if the school’s student base squeaks past the Tier 4 cap and pushes them into Tier 3 – where they will instead take on the commanding Cochrane Cobras.
“It’s leaning that way very strongly,” said Bobcats coach Cam Cote. “That’s the biggest unfortunate thing that happens with the growth is that we won’t get a chance to defend our title. It would have been fun to go out and defend that title.”
For many years, Bow Valley High School has sat squarely in Tier 4, a designation set by the Alberta Schools Athletic Association for school football teams with a population of 449 or less.
Last November, for the first time since 2004, the Bobcats reached the top of their tier with a thrilling provincial victory against the Stettler Wildcats.
But with the growth of the town comes an increase in the town’s teenage population – and the Riversong school is projected to pop over the 450 mark come September.
That will move its football team into Tier 3, which encompasses schools with 450 to 749 students – including Cochrane High School, which has approximately 600 kids and has been the Tier 3 provincial champs for three years running.
“There’s no leeway. If you’re at a certain number, you have to play at that level,” said Brian Utley, spokesman for the Rocky View Sports Association. “If they’re the only Tier 3 schools, then they play each other.”
Utley said there is a stipulation that states football teams can choose to move up to Tier 2 (usually reserved for schools with 750 to 1249 students), and because of Cochrane High’s winning reputation, many give it a go against those bigger schools rather than face down the Cobras.
“Schools have to look at their situation and look whether it’s in their best interest to play Cochrane, or someone else. (The Cobras) are a dominant team … sometimes, your chances of getting to provincials are better by moving up,” said Utley, adding Bow Valley now has an option to do the same. “You can always move up, and that’s their choice. Of course, it’s tough competition.”
Bobcats coach Darryl Korody said he knows his team could jump over Tier 3 into Tier 2 and avoid playing Cochrane High – but they’re not interested.
“We like the challenge,” Korody said of facing the Cobras. “I think it’s important to show the school that we’re ready to compete where we belong.”
Cobras coach Rob McNab said he’s intrigued by Cochrane versus Cochrane on the gridiron next season – especially since the Bobcats would be coming into the tier at the top of their game.
“If they ... want to compete provincially, they’ll have to play us … (but) we’ll have to play them,” McNab said. “They’re provincial champs, too.”
Official tier declaration will occur in September.
