Two Cochrane Cobras have advanced to the third and final selection camp for the U18 Alberta football team that will be competing for the national cup in mid-July.

Linebacker Jesse Groot and defensive back Brayden Chamberlain will be among the 54 players competing for a spot on the 40-man sister. Last weekend, it was whittled down from 100.

Linebacker Jesse Groot, 17, played for the U18 Team Blue last year in the Western U18 Challenge and hopes to crack the roster for the top U18 team. He says the camps are highly competitive but valuable.

"It definitely tests your limit, and it tests your resiliency to pressure and new systems within your football knowledge," says Groot.

Team Blue is used by Football Alberta as a potential stepping stone to the top team. It's used to continue to develop younger players and allows them to test themselves against top competitors.  Some of the players not selected out of the Final Team Alberta U18 camp in June will join the Blue team on July 9-16 in Sherwood Park.

"Last year, I was fortunate enough to make the Western Showcase Team and I definitely loved that experience. It definitely boosted my knowledge."

Cobra O-lineman Caleb Wetherell and DB Emery Stevenson were selected for Team Blue last week.