The Cochrane Cobras high school football camp was a short and sweet five days this year.

With no games on the horizon until the fall, the June 10 to 14 camp was a chance to provide some insight for the season ahead for the long-time tier III provincial championships.

"We're trying to evaluate how much the younger kids improved from last year and see what we have going into the off-season," says Cobras co-head coach Rob McNab. "The kids have worked hard in the weight room and it really shows."

Coach Tom Knitter talks strategy.Of about the 50 players trying out, the team will be carrying 45 on their roster when they hit the field for their first game of the 2019 campaign in late August.

"The goal is always to get 15 in each grade so that every year we're not having that big rebuild. That makes 45 ideal; sometimes a little bit more in one grade and a little bit less in others."

The number of camp participants was down slightly this year and appears to be part of a current trend across North America, says McNab. He believes growing interest in club sports, like lacrosse and rugby, have had an impact here.

"Things are changing, there's no question. There are a lot of other club sports we're competing with, so we're finding the numbers are down a little bit. Right across North America, they are saying numbers are down."

"But then again," he adds, "maybe it's just not the year."

Besides Rocky View Sports and provincial play, the Cobras team will be heading to San Francisco for some exhibition play in the fall.

Xavier Vaillancourt Pumped for Season

Cobras starting quarterback Xavier Cobras is already charged up for what will be his final season with the Cobras. 

Xavier Vaillancourt already has offers from the Dinos and most recently Western University after the Cobras 2019 campaign."Cobras football has always been my favourite football," says Vaillancourt. "I love the playbook, I love passing here and I'm excited to go win some games and go six straight."

Vaillancourt continues to be one of the most talked about high school quarterbacks in Canadian high school football. 

Recently, Vaillancourt received his second official offer for post-secondary play from the Western University. That follows on the steps of a similar offer from the University of Calgary Dinos.

" I believe those are two of the best programs in Canada. It feels good. It's like a dream come true to play university football."

With university play over a year away, more offers are likely to follow.

Vaillancourt recently played in the inaugural CFC Top Prospects game on June 1 in Ottawa that featured Canada's top high school players. Aired by TSN, he was part of Team Dunigan that was on the losing side.

"It wasn't my best game. Sometimes it just doesn't go your way. You can't win them all but it was a good learning experience. It was fun hanging out with the best players in Canada and learning from Matt Dunigan and Henry Burris."

Hall of Famer Dunigan and future Hall of Famer Burris both offered some tips and tricks, says Vaillancourt.

Coaches and scouts of many post-secondary football programs were also in attendance.