It had been six years since the Cochrane Cobras football team lost a game in the Rocky View league, and they hadn't lost a regular-season game since the 1990s. That makes the George McDougall Mustangs 30-28 win last Friday one for the books. 

The Cobras took an early 21-0 lead but the Mustangs chipped away at it and scored the winning touchdown with 20 seconds remaining on the clock.

Cobras co-head coach Rob McNab says the Mustangs are having a good season, are well-coached, and have a big and physical team.

"I expected a battle. We came out 21-0 right off the hop. I don't know whether they picked it up or we shut it down, but they did a good job against us."

He says the Cobras came into the game with six injured defensive starters and four more were sidelined in the game. He says that has left them with several younger defenders who will need to play tougher.

"McDougall always plays a tough, tough game, and sometimes we just don't match up to that toughness. We're generally a very skilled team but we're definitely going to have to step it up and take a couple of tough pills before we play Springbank this Friday"

Springbank has combined forces with Rundle College this season and has a 2-1 record. Their only loss came at the hands of the Mustangs.

"We're expecting a really good game, and we've got to play well. We have to get back some injuries."

The Cobras currently have two receivers, three defensive backs, and three linebackers out. Who will be ready to return Friday isn't known at this point.

"It's tough on us right now."

The loss has dropped the Cochrane Cobras to number two in Tier 3 Alberta high school football and raised the Mustangs to a number three among the province's Tier 2 teams.

Over the weekend, the Holy Rosary Raiders remained undefeated with a 46-0 win over St. Paul to grab the #1 ranking in Tier 2 play.

Six years ago, it was the Mustangs who beat the Cobras, 21-17, to win the Rocky View banner. That same year, the Cobras went on to win the Tier 3 Provincial Championship.

Also in Rocky View football, the Bow Valley Bobcats came up short in a 43-12 loss to the Bert Church Chargers. The Bobcats host the Mustangs on Thursday.