The Cochrane Cobras football team officially capped off their picture perfect season, with their annual Cobras Awards Banquet on Dec. 17.
The Cobras went undefeated all throughout the season, going 6-0 in league play, and 4-0 in the provincial tournament to capture their fourth straight Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association (ASAA) provincial championship after defeating the Holy Rosary Raiders 21-14 in the final game.
There were 15 different categories of awards at the banquet, with several of them featuring more than one player. Six players were named team MVP, with receivers Dawson Laye, Jack Tocher and Daniel de Bruin being named, while quarterback Brett Conlon, running back Jackson McLean and offensive lineman Cody Pickering also getting the honour.
Three different individuals shared Most Improved Player with Donovan Allen, Connor Hunt and Grant Shiman being the recipients, while Special Teams Player went to kicker Katelyn Thompson and receiver Dylan Neis.
Xavier Valliancourt, Dawson Gladue, Jude Wilkinson and Cayne Yacey were all winners of the Rookie of the Year Award and the Cobra Crunch award went to Mathais Mailer.
Best Offensive and Defensive Lineman awards went to Brandon Fraser and Eric Bender on offence, and Spencer Crawford and David Welchinski on the defensive side of the ball. Christian Scott was named the team’s Best Receiver and Will Eilers got the honour of Best Linebacker.
Three players earned the Scout Award, with Connall MacLeod and Logan and Cole Higginson taking home the award. Best Offensive Back went to Ryan Kaczmer and Best Defensive Back went to Joseph Bell and DJ Tocher.
The teams Leadership Award was shared by five players including Jackson McLean, Thomas Robitaille, Jackson Carter, Eric Bender and Cody Pickering, while 30 players received the Commitment Award, by showing up to every team practice and game.
Debbie and Jason Crawford won the Hancock Award, which goes to the parents that go the extra mile to make the Cobras’ program better. The Crawfords have operated the concession for the past five years at all the Cobras’ home games.
As for the Rocky View Sports League Awards, the Cobras had eight players named league all-stars. Those players were Spencer Crawford, Christian Scott, Jack Tocher, Ryan Kaczmer, Dave Welchinski, Eric Bender, Will Eilers and Grant Shiman.
Jackson Carter and Brandon Fraser shared the Coaches Award. Other award winners included Daniel de Bruin winning the leagues Best Offensive Player, Jackson McLean taking home Best Defensive Player and Joseph Bell being the recipient of the Best Defensive Back Award. Katelyn Thompson won Best Special Teams Player, Cody Pickering was named Best Offensive Lineman and Brett Conlon was the winner of the league’s Best Quarterback.
