Brooks is the next stop on the road in tier 3 provincial high school playoffs for the Cochrane Cobras.

On Nov. 10, the Cobras proved why they are the #1 ranked team in tier 3 high school football after coming back from a 17-14 deficit at the half to beat the Cardston Cougars, 24-17.

A late second-quarter touchdown by Dawson Laye, who scored all three of the majors, brought them within three points of the Cougars by the half. A touchdown and field goal in the third quarter sealed the deal.

The Cougars were on the hunt throughout the second half and found the red zone, but a stellar Cobras defence gave push back and kept them off the scoreboard.

Cobra Joseph Bell goes up against Adyn Card for the ball.

There’s a deep history between the two teams in provincial play. It’s the fourth straight year the two teams have met in provincial action, all four resulting in the Cobras wins. The Cougars was the last team to deny the Cobras passage to the provincial final in 2013.

“We know each other well and they are a tough team. They’re very athletic and I was expecting a tight game,” says McNab.

Quarterback Xavier Vaillancourt, who threw a rare and costly interception in the first half, said they were expecting a hard-fought game and knew they had to be at their best to win.

“We stuck to our game plan in the second half and played hard to put it away.”

Having Dawson Laye back as a target after being out of the lineup for six weeks helped.

“They haven’t seen him pretty much the whole year so they double-teamed  Dylan and left Dawson wide open and we connected a bunch of times,” says Vaillancourt.

“It definitely impacted the game. They weren’t expecting it and they didn’t really have anything prepared for him.”

Laye has been left pacing the sidelines for weeks and was anxious to return.

“It felt so good to be back on the field,” says Laye.

The defence contained Cougars' QB Ty Schaffer late in the game maintain the lead. Cobras from left, Cayne Yacey (#46), Patrick Belanger (#29), Jude Wilkinson (352), Jack Rovere (#6) and Donavan Allen (#32).Defensive coach and co-head coach Bruce O’Neil praises his defensive coaching team. He says he’s been stepping back and takes little credit for the win.

“They did a great job of making adjustments and we learned from what we were seeing and the kids were able to follow directions well.”

The road to the provincial final has one more stop in Brooks this Saturday for the southern Alberta championship. The Brooks Buffalos ranked sixth, dominated the Rundle College Cobras, 34-6, to advance to the south final.

O’Neil says the Buffalos aren’t to be taken lightly.

“This is not Cochrane’s path directly to provincials, I can tell you that,” says O’Neil. “Brooks is a really good team and we’re expecting a tough game against them.”

He says they know they will need to queue in on a few players, including their all-star running back Matthew Peterson and says Buffalos quarterback Cobey Hofer has both arm and leg strength

In the north, the #2 ranked St. Albert Skyhawks will be hosting the #3 Lloydminster Holy Rosary Raiders.

Whoever wins these matchups will be travelling to Fort McMurray for the provincial championship game on Nov. 24.

The Cobras are taking target at their fifth consecutive provincial championship to set a new record in Alberta high school football. Both the Cobras and Cougars have previously won four straight.