The player who will be long remembered for making "The Catch" for Team Alberta last summer at the Football Canada Cup has been awarded the Alberta Bowl Scholarship by Football Alberta.

Dawson Gladue, one of the star receivers of the Cochrane High Cobras, has been awarded a $2,000 scholarship towards his first year of studies at the University of Calgary and with the USports Dinos football team.

Football Alberta executive director Tim Enger says Gladue has made contributions to many Football Alberta teams over the years but will be especially remembered for making the catches-of-all-catches during a semifinal game against Quebec.

It was Gladue who grabbed a tipped Hail Mary throw from Alberta quarterback Eli Hetlinger deep in the Quebec zone to glide in for a touchdown and deadlock the game 23-23 with zeros on the clock. The teams remained tied through three overtimes before Quebec kicked a field goal to win 29-27.

"That was probably the biggest play in the history of Team Alberta," says Enger.

But it's not the only reason he received the scholarship, he notes.

"Dawson has been putting out excellent football for a very long time. He's never failed to be a part of our program, and at the same time contributed greatly to the Cobra program.

Enger says opposing teams were a bit relieved when Gladue went into last year's provincial playoffs on the limp.

"In talking to some of the opposing coaches that played against Cochrane last year. I mean, there were some incredible players on the team, but they were all afraid of Dawson. They knew that kid was a real difference-maker and the fact that he couldn't play as much as he would have liked in the provincial final was a bit of the breather for the other team. But Cochrane still won anyway."

Gladue was an early signing with the Calgary Dinos last September before completing his final season with the Cochrane Cobras.

Football Alberta presents several scholarships each year to recognize players entering their first year of post-secondary play. 

"It's an important thing for us to recognize that when they go off to university that they've committed to us not only their summers but a lot of their finances as well," says Enger. "So, if we can give a little back to them and help them on their way, that's good for us."

Only those who have played in Alberta Bowls are eligible for this particular scholarship. Ten teams advanced to Alberta Bowls of the Alberta Schools' Athletic Association last season. One hundred per cent any profit from these bowl games is used to support the scholarship.