The sequel is rarely ever as good as the original, but this rematch has the makings to be an instant classic. After a 21-6 victory over the Brooks Buffalos on Nov. 17, where the Cochrane High Cobras scored two first half touchdowns and added another one in the second half to secure the victory, the Cobras have once again advanced to the ASAA Tier 3 High School Provincial Championship game against a familiar foe in the Holy Rosary Raiders, the team Cochrane High beat 21-14 in last year's final. The Cobras are now looking for a provincial record of five straight titles. "It feels pretty good. That's our biggest goal every year - to make it to the provincial final and see how that goes, so whenever you set goals and be able to meet them, it's a great feeling," said Cobras co-head coach Rob McNab. "Each year is different. I'm not a big records guy ... are we aware of it? Yes of course, but it's not our focus. Our focus is to win this year for these kids and that's kind of where we're at this year." To recap, the game that took place just over a year ago was a back and forth affair, with the Cobras opening up the score when now graduated running back Jackson McLean romped for a 15-yard touchdown midway through the first quarter to give Cochrane High a 7-0 lead. Holy Rosary bounced back the follow drive and converted on a one-yard rush to knot the game at seven apiece. To start the second quarter, quarterback Brett Conlon, who is now suiting up for the Windsor Lancers of USports marched the Cobras up the field and ended off the drive with a 12-yard touchdown pass to receiver and current Guelph Gryphon Jack Tocher to once again regain the Cobra lead. The Raiders once again replied with another one-yard plunge at the Cochrane High goal line with one-second left before half time to draw the game even at 14-14. It was a defensive battle in the third quarter with both offences struggling to find traction, but with 8:39 left on the clock in the fourth quarter, Conlon once again drove the majority of the field and fired a 37-yard strike to Tocher for both players second touchdowns of the game, and put Cochrane up in the game once more. Holy Rosary had the ball with less than a minute to go, looking to tie the game but Dawson Laye picked off the Raiders quarterback to seal the game for Cochrane High which grabbed their fourth straight provincial title and 15th overall. "This is the fourth year in a row we're meeting them. We beat them in the previous three years and I kind of expected this. They're a program that has taken off in the last four or five years and have certainly closed the gap on us in Tier 3 score wise these last three years," McNab said of the Cobras upcoming opponents. "I was expecting this and this is going to be a big challenge for us for sure. It's definitely becoming one (a rivalry) because they are a very well coached team and losing these last few years is obviously very disappointing for them. They've got their sights set on us as we have with them so they'll be very prepared coming in and we have to play a full game in order to win." "They have a very big team, which is something that we're not. We have to come up with some kind of strategy to neutralize their size and use our speed. They play with good skill but their size is going to be a big challenge for us." All provincial finals are taking place at SMS Equipment Stadium in Fort McMurray, a stadium that has hosted a CFL pre season and regular season game. McNab is unsure what the atmosphere will be like during the contest. "I've never been there, most of these kids have never been there either. It's going to be cold and far away from our parent group, although some are going to try and get there, I expect that they'll take care of us and be very gracious hosts," McNab said. "The facility is second to none, it's just a long haul to get out there and it's not something we're use to doing. I'm sure we'll settle in and that facility adds to the whole venue for sure." Kick off for the Cobras game against the Raiders will take place at 11 a.m. on Nov. 24.
