Payback can be a pain.
Especially when it’s the Cochrane High School Cobras who owe you.
Still smarting from last year’s Rocky View Sports Association Division final loss to George McDougall High School Mustangs of Airdrie, Cobras delivered retribution in the form of a 43-7 league win Oct. 3 at Cochrane’s Spray Lake Sawmills Legacy Field. The win was a Cobras message signifying the reigning Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association Tier 3 high school provincial football champs fully intend to take this year’s divisional title before moving on.
“The guys stepped up. Everyone knew their part,” said Cobras starting quarterback Tae Gordon, who threw three TD passes and ran for one against Mustangs. “We pretty much expected what they gave us. But that was a hard-hitting defence. We knew they were going to come. We handled it well up front. The line gave us enough time. Great game, obviously.”
Cobras opened the scoring in the first quarter on a five-yard touchdown run by running back Cole Avery. Gordon scored on a one-yard dive in the second with Avery going across again on a five-yard plunge.
Mustangs scored a second-quarter TD, but that was all they’d get as Cochrane led 22-7 at the half. The Mustangs score came on a Cobras defensive miscue.
“When they did score, it was the scheme’s fault,” said Cobras co-head coach and defensive dean Bruce O’Neil. “It was my fault on that one. We talked about it this week, not moving the (defensive halfback) over when the slotback moved. He did move. So the scheme caught us. It wasn’t the kids, it was the coach. But we made the adjustment after that.”
From there, Gordon and Cobras put their foot on the gas, getting three second-half TDs from Avery (his third on the day), running back Ethan Forrest and wideout Spencer Marchand.
Co-head-coach and offensive coordinator Rob McNab was pleased with his team’s performance in cold, blustery conditions on the FieldTurf surface at Spray Lake Sawmills Legacy Field.
“We have some good players out there. We had a good game plan the coaches put together. We executed as best we could,” McNab related. “Cole played well today. We haven’t been giving the running game much attention because the weather’s been so good. Today, you know you’re going to need that and you’re going to need it down the road. So, we spent a little extra time on the running game this week. And Cole did a great job.”
There’s a good chance these two teams will meet for the divisional final again. Last year, visiting Mustangs defeated Cobras on Cochrane’s home field.
“We expect it will be a tough game if we see them again in the playoffs,” O’Neil said. “It’s a well-coached team.”
Quarterback Gordon was equally wary.
“We know they’re going to come back wanting more,” he cautioned. “We just have to keep getting better.”
