The Cochrane Cobras hosted two teams in a jamboree to wrap up its two-week spring football training camp on June 14.

Both the Chestermere Lakers and Foothills Composite Falcons participated in scrimmages against the Cobras as a warmup to what's ahead in the fall.

"It's just so great for us to get out there and be able to put what we have been practising on to the field and go against some different colour jerseys and just get full tackle, full contact reps," says Tom Knitter of the Cobras.

It's a chance for some younger players coming up through the bantam ranks to get a taste of the faster high school game, and for some, it's their first exposure to the sport.

cobras 2The Cobras defence in action against the Falcons.

The scrimmages, though, play an even large role for the team's starters.

"We're kind of locking in our depth chart for the end of August and for our Week One game, and for those Grade 11s going into their senior year to really solidify their starting positions on the football team."

Mitch Bec, head coach of the Lakers, says the scrimmage was a valuable way to wrap up their spring training.

"Both Foothill Comp and Cochrane are very good programs," says Bec. "They've been provincially ranked year-after-year, so to come out and compete like we did was really exciting for our program."

"Spring camp has been awesome," says Bec. "We have a lot of grade 9s coming up that I think will have a big impact on the team, plus a lot of other excellent players. I think we're going to have a really successful season this year."

The Bow Valley Bobcats wrapped up their two-week camp on June 13. Head coach Dustin Paul says it was a success and that it reopens on Aug. 19 in preparation for the Rocky View season.

August 30 is huge opening day for high school football in Cochrane. The Cobras will be opening their season at home against the Chestermere Lakers, while the Bobcats will host the George McDougall Mustangs, the reigning RVS divisional champions. 

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