The Cochrane Cobras are heading back to the ASAA provincial championships in the hunt for their 19th provincial championship, this time against long-time rivals, the Holy Rosary Raiders of Lloydminster.
Cochrane easily handled the Willow Creek Cobras, 41-17, in the south final of the newly established 3A division and head to Grande Prairie on Friday for the Alberta Bowl on Nov. 23. Game time is 11 a.m.
"Willow Creek is an extremely well-coached team," says Cochrane coach Tom Knitter. "They've had a number of years with provincial success. They have a very potent offense, and I think they were able to move the ball well today, but at the end of the day, I was happy with how our players prepared."
Willow Creek head coach Kelly Starling says he's proud of what their team accomplished this season.
"We took a team that was barely established and took them to the provincial semifinals. I'm proud of what this team did. They believed in each other, they kept digging. and they worked hard. Today's results are not what we wanted, but I told them to hold their heads high because we took a small program a fair way."
Knitter says they have been following the Raiders in anticipation of meeting them at provincials. He calls them well-coached and looks forward to the challenge of playing them.
The two powerhouses met in six consecutive provincial championships, with the Cobras winning all of them. When the Cobras stepped up to Tier 1, then Tier 2, the Raiders were left alone to win the division.
"They're very physically, very big offensive line. They can move the ball through the air and on the ground, and have a very aggressive defence. We're going to celebrate our win tonight and then tomorrow we're going to meet as a coaching unit and establish our game plan."
Having one last chance to become a provincial champion means everything to grade 12 d-lineman Fraser Dickinson.
"I'm going to leave everything I have on that field. Last year was heartbreaking. We made it all the way there and things didn't go our way, but hopefully, this is the year. This team has a lot of grit, and we're going to push as much as we can and hopefully return with a provincial win."
Dickinson says he's dedicated his last three years to football.
"This last game on this field has been very emotional. The last three years, it's been my purpose in schooling. I've been hanging out with pretty much my family for the past three years."
For players like starting quarterback Joe Stevenson, it's a completely different story. The grade 10 student is at the start of his high school football career and appreciates the opportunity he's been given. While young, he's very aware of the history between the Cobras and Raiders.
"I was at my friend's house when I was either 11 or 12, watching the provincial game against Holy Rosary. I know the history between these two teams, I know there's a long-time rivalry, and I'm just looking forward to it."
"We really want to show we're a brotherhood. We want to show the town that Big Red is truly back, and we want to show them that with a provincial banner."
After last year's 7-3 loss, these provincials hold great meaning to the team, including grade 11 all-around player Tyler Clazie, who missed the opportunity to play in the championship game last year after being injured in the semifinals
"They'll be tough. Our whole team has to be all in this week focusing and preparing."
Cobras alumni Kyle Moortgat joined the coaching staff this season as one of the receivers' coaches. He says there's been huge advances made by the receiving corps since the start of the season.
"There were a lot of things we had to work on, but they listened to their coaching. They've taken time to practice and work hard and they've improved throughout this whole year. Every single game has gone better."
Moortgat won a provincial championship with the Cobras before playing five seasons with the Regina Rams. He finished his university career ranked ninth in the Rams history with 115 receptions and is 13th in the U of R record book with 1,558 receiving yards.
"It's been 10 years since I've been back almost to the day. I remember talking to (Rob) McNab. I was smiling to see the whole circle come around and be on the other side of coaching. To be able to help the kids from what I've learned from my career is something so special. I cherish every single moment of it."
