The Cochrane Cobras’ provincial goal started to come into sharper focus under a thick and foggy sky Saturday afternoon as the high school football squad shut out Springbank to claim the Rockyview School Division A title.
“Great job today. I’m proud of you guys,” football coach Rob McNab told the senior boys as they squished together under the goal posts with the trophy.
“We’ve got three more games to go.”
Those three more games include getting through regional semi-finals and finals before the Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association provincial championship game at the end of November.
Saturday’s divisional final against the Springbank High School Phoenix drew a standing-room only crowd to Spray Lake Sawmills Legacy Field, where the score leaned heavily in Cochrane’s favour – sitting at 29-0 by the half.
Springbank picked up momentum in the second half and played with class, but weren’t able to move the dial at all before time ran out with a final score of 43-0.
“I’m glad we didn’t come in too ahead of ourselves,” said quarterback Tae Gordon, adding Springbank stopped the Cobras on their first drive, but the Cochrane team adjusted to take over the rest of the game.
In the end, senior player Gordon had 14 completions in 25 attempts for 280 yards and three touchdowns. Young receiver Dawson Laye, who is in Grade 10, also impressed on the field with five catches for 119 yards and one touchdown.
After the win, McNab reminded his hyped-up huddle to stay healthy and stay safe in the couple of weeks until their next game: the ASAA regional semi-finals on Nov. 12.
Gordon – who has raised the provincial banner twice in his high school football career – said he also encouraged the younger players on the team to enjoy their division win, but keep focused on the team’s ultimate goal of making it across the finish line.
“I usually tell them, ‘You haven’t won anything yet,” he said. “’You can’t celebrate anything yet.’”
On the B side of the division, Cochrane’s Bow Valley Bobcats also took top spot, wiping out Airdrie’s WH Croxford Cavaliers with a final shore of 34-21.
-30-
