Adversity is the test of any sporting organization. To rise above it tells the tale of their making.

The Cochrane Cobras football team is one such organization. 

The Oct. 29 clash between the Cochrane Cobras and George McDougall Mustangs was one for the history book in Rocky View championship games, perhaps the most exciting ever.

For the Cobras, it was more than a win. Yes, there were aches, pains, and injuries, but it was the test they needed to come together as a team before starting a run at another provincial championship.

Like the last time these two teams met, the Cobras took a healthy lead into the second half. Once again, yard-by-yard, the George McDougall Mustangs fought back. Last time, George McDougall won 30-28. This time it was tied 21-21 at the end of the regulation, forcing unheard-of overtime in a Rocky View final.

Burdened by penalties, interceptions, and miscues in the second half, the Cobras dug deep to score an overtime touchdown, aided by a roughing-the-kicker penalty, to take a 28-21 lead. George Mc was pressing once again on a third-down try of a yard and a bit. In the trenches, the Cobras stood firm to end the game.

"We had everything rolling, and it just stopped," co-head coach Rob McNab told the team in the post-game hurdle. "But we just kept fighting, bad breaks, the whole bit, we just kept fighting and fighting and fighting. That is the way we have to carry on going forward. We have to fight all the time.

"Last time, I thought we lost some of that, we kind of gave up a little bit. We didn't give up this time. That play will be etched in my mind for a long time. Third and this much, we stuffed their asses."

Mustangs head coach Chris Glass says the game was one for the books.

"It's probably the first time it's ever gone to a shoot-out in Rocky View history for the championship," says Glass. "My hats off to them. They played a great game."

"These teams went to war today. Most of the time, when Cochrane goes up 21-0 in two straight games, it usually ends up being a 50-0 game. We came back twice against them, and I'm proud of the way we fought. I can't wait until next season when we see them again. It will be a can't-miss war."

He says the play of Cobra Shaun Clazie stood out. Clazie played for Glass with the Airdrie Raiders. 

"Shaun Clazie was absolutely amazing. He really put his team on his back, and I'm very proud of him."

Cobras defensive coordinator Tom Knitter says it was a big character win for the Cobras after a solid week of preparation.

"I think our culture is starting to take effect late in the season. I'm just really proud our kids for stepping up to compete. Win, lose, or draw, if our players play to the best of their ability, we're proud of them."

He called the Mustangs a well-coached team with some tremendous athletes who will be competitive in Tier 2 provincials.

Post-game, the adrenaline was still pumping for the Cobra players.

Running back Shaun Clazie says it was a character win for the Cobras.

"We had people playing both ways this game. People were tired going into overtime, but everyone gave it their all."

His younger brother Ethan says the team hungered for the banner.

"The first time we played them we kind of stopped in the second half, and this time we kept going. We really wanted this, so we played hard to get it."

Grade 12 O-lineman Jacob Patterson was exhausted and visibly sore from the game, but it was worth it for him. He was among those accepting the Rocky View trophy and cared for it during the post-game hurdle. Patterson was a member of the Cobras provincial championship team in grade 10 and is determined to win it again in his final season.

"They were definitely the toughest game we've played this year. They had some good players this year, and we showed up to play."

Both Patterson and linemate Nathan Jazmin Kera believe coming into the game mentally prepared was the difference. 

"I feel amazing right now," says Jazmin Kera, a grade 11 player who is getting his first taste of winning a championship with the Cobras. "My heart is racing. I can't believe we've come this far from our very first practice."

It was quarterback Ethan Pickard who carried the ball into the endzone on a quarterback sneak for the win. He was thrilled to be the one who got to punch it in for the team.

"It was close. I knew they were going to battle hard because this was their miracle season. I'm just so happy that we made it not. Their papers have been going crazy saying this is it, we're going to beat the Cobras."

"It was a fantastic game, both sides going hard. The guys were going both ways, dudes were getting hurt, but fighting through everything possible to get the win."

"It was amazing," says grade 12 O-lineman Samuel Ricard. "That was one of the best games I've ever played. That was thrilling and so much fun."

"We're just going to keep going 100 per cent every single day like we've been doing the entire year."

He says he never lost faith in his team.

"Even when it was tied up, I was cheering on my team, saying, 'We can still do this, we can still do this, let's keep going!"

If a coming of age could be measured in a single game, this was it. Like all amateur football teams, the pandemic left both teams with only grade 12 players knowing what it means to play for a high school championship.  If they didn't know before, players on both teams most certainly understand the deep hunger you need to excel in the upcoming ASAA high school provincials.

The Cobras will start their provincial run at home. If successful, they're expected to face their long-time rival, the Lloydminister Holy Rosary Raiders in the finals. The Raiders are currently ranked #1 in Tier 3 football; the Cobras are right behind them.

The Mustangs are a Tier 2 team and currently ranked #2 behind Grande Prairie's St, Joe's Celtics. They, too, will start their provincial run at home.