It wasn’t pretty, but the job got finished.
Cochrane High School Cobras made it hard on themselves as they squeezed past Cardston High School Cougars 49-42 in their Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association (ASAA) Tier 3 high school football quarter-final match-up.
The game, played on a cold Nov. 14 at Spray Lake Sawmills Legacy Field got off to a tough start for Cobras as Cougars battered them in the first quarter, going up 14-7.
Defensive back Damon Scott scored the home team’s solitary TD from an interception return.
Cobras woke up in the second quarter, with slotback Zach Rabe grabbed a TD.
Linebacker Ethan Forrest converted the kick to tie things up at 14-14.
The Cochrane side’s punishing defence kept Cougars at bay, for a bit before some sloppy turnovers by Cobras allowed the visitors to score two unanswered TDs to make the score 28-14.
Another interception almost cost Cobras at the end of the second, but the resilience of Cobras d-line stopped the score from being wider at the half.
Quarterback Tae Gordon scored a superb running TD off Cobras first offensive drive in the third quarter, rejuvenating Cobras as the looked to narrow the gap.
Unfortunately Cougars came right back off the next drive and scored making it 35-21 going into the final quarter.
Running back Cole Avery, and slotback Erik Nusl added TDs in the fourth as Cobras evened things up at 35-35. Cougars bounced back, making it 42-35 with three minutes left in the game.
A defence-splitting run and kick conversion from Forrest evened things up, before centre William Moulton scrambled the ball over the line to win it 49-42 with 23 seconds remaining in the tense quarter.
“I would never say we were lucky,” said Rob McNab, Cobras co-head coach and offensive coordinator said. “I will tell you though, that the kids stepped up and played hard in the second half.
“Normally, when you turn the ball over five times, it’s not going to be a good outcome, but our guys stuck with it. To be down 28-14 at the half, and then come out with a performance like that in the second half was a credit to these kids, and the hard work and preparation they put in all week.”
The game against Cougars was one of the toughest McNab’s side has played this season. Does he think that his team might have underestimated their opponents considering their sluggish start?
“No way, never,” McNab stated. “We never underestimate anybody. We knew they were good.”
Cobras next play Rundle College in the Tier 3 semi-final match-up on Nov. 21 at Spray Lake Sawmills Legacy Field. Kick-off is 1 p.m.
