The Cochrane Cobras have returned to their winning ways with a 18-0 win over the W. H. Croxford Cavaliers in front of a packed house at their first Friday Night Lights game of the 2024 season.
Leading 7-0 at the half, the Cobras kicker Sean Llewellyn added a field goal with 2:24 remaining in the third quarter. Slotback Tyler Zarowny snagged a short pass and sprinted 25 yards to turn it into a major with 2:10 remaining, putting the game out of the reach of the Cavaliers. On the following kickoff, Llewellyn put it through the end zone to add a single.
"It's awesome to win as a team," says Zarowny, a first-year Cobra who came up from the Bantam Lions. "It is defense-offense, and we all came together to pull through."
It was the first field goal for Llewellyn, whom the Cobras recruited from the school's soccer team.
"His confidence has just skyrocketed this week, so it's nice to see him get his first field goal," says head coach Tom Knitter. "And really, he put up our team a second possession, which is huge."
Last week, the Cobras had a rare 25-22 loss to the Bert Church Chargers.
"We've been talking all week about preparing and I think our team had an excellent week of practice and preparation," says Knitter. "It was one of the things we wanted to focus on this week, and I thought the team showed up."
The Cobras have been dealing with some key offensive injuries and have called upon some of their younger players to step up early in the season.
"I thought today those young guys were much more comfortable and ready to go. When their name was called, they were able to make the play."
The Cobras are carrying a 55-player roster this season.
"That is one of the heavier rosters than we have kept before," says Knitter. "And you know what? It's really just a testament to the strength of the program here over the years and the interest in football at our school.
They are 2-1 on the season heading into their game against the Springbank Phoenix on Sept. 21 at Rundle College.
