Will anybody ever be able to catch the Cochrane Cobras in consecutive provincial high school football champions?

Clearly a dynasty, the team has now won six tier 3 championships in a row after beating Lloydminster's Holy Rosary Raiders, 17-0, on a windy Raymond field, Nov. 23.

That's provincial championship number 19 since 1986, which includes two tier II titles.

The Cobras defense came up big in the victory that wasn't as lopsided as the score may imply.

"The difference in the game was our defense," says Cobras' co-head coach Rob McNab. "They played stellar. Three interceptions, a big hit on the quarterback that they scored a touchdown on; our defense was awesome."

Late in the second quarter, Chandler Ball, in his first game back since the midseason, forced a fumble by Raiders quarterback Anders Huneby. It was recovered by William Hunter and taken into the end zone to put the Cobras ahead 7-0.

Late in the second quarter, Ben Dobson intercepted an end zone pass and ran it out to keep the Raiders off the scoreboard.

Ben Dobson also recovered a punt that lead to a Cobras second touchdown. After Chase Hunt gained about 20 yards on a run, quarterback Xavier Vaillancourt hit Ethan Stanley in the end zone to open a 14-0 lead. With 2:57 remaining, a field goal by Oscar Hughes put the game out of reach.

The Raiders pushed hard to the end but had no success in the red zone. Ben Dobson had his second interception of the game in the last five minutes of play Then, Ty Metcalfe got an interception on Rosary’s final drive to allow the Cobras to burn the clock.

McNab says the pressure is on the Cobras at every provincial championship.

"I think the hardest thing in any sport is to repeat, let alone go six in a row."

He says the Raiders defense made it tough.

"They came out with a defense we weren't expecting. They have some really good athletes. It was tough sledding, really tough sledding."

It was a bittersweet championship for quarterback Xavier Vaillancourt. All of the grade 12 players now have three rings representing their success with the Cobra. The win was great, but it quickly sank in that this is the last time many of them will play together.

Vaillancourt says they all will treasure their time as a Cobra.

"I think me and almost every other senior on that team would give anything to go back and relive those three years with that group of guys."

"I don't know a way that it could have been too much better than that. I just want to thank them and thank everyone that's helped us to get here and helped us be so close. It was a great experience."

He's proud of the total team effort that made the championship. He says the win was for everyone who ever wore a Cobras jersey.

"This year is not just about this year's team. It's about all the guys who were there before us, all the guys who paved the way for us to be able to accomplish such a great record. It's one for all the Cobras that have ever been a Cobra. I'm really proud of it."

Fortunately, a few of those seniors will be on the field together again next season with the U of C Dinos. Vaillancourt, Dawson Gladue, and Cayne Vacey have all signed with the Dinos for 2020 and join three other Cobra alumni already in the Dinos program.

The game was the fifth consecutive year they have faced Holy Rosary in the Alberta final.