The Cochrane Cobras football team officially capped off their picture perfect season, with their annual Cobras Awards Banquet on Dec. 16. The Cobras went undefeated throughout the season, going 6-0 in league play, and 3-0 in the provincial tournament to capture their fifth straight Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association (ASAA) provincial championship after defeating the Holy Rosary Raiders 25-8 in the final game. The Cobras scored an astounding 391 points over the course of those nine games, averaging just over 40 points per game while only allowing 79 points over the course of the season, an average of just over eight points per game. There were 15 different categories of awards at the banquet, with several of them featuring more than one player. Six players were named team MVP, with receivers Dawson Laye and Dylan Neis being named, while quarterback Xavier Vaillancourt, safety Joseph Bell, linebacker Connor Hunt and offensive lineman Jude Wilkinson also received the honour. Three different individuals shared Most Improved Player with Riley Peters, Derek Lenson and Patrick Belanger being the recipients, while Special Teams Player went to kicker Oscar Hughes, Derek Reid and William Hunter. Running back Chase Hunt, Ben Dobson, Dominic Mills and Ty Metcalfe were all winners of the Rookie of the Year Award and the Cobra Crunch award went to the Bell brothers in Joseph and Fox. Best Offensive and Defensive Lineman awards went to Noah Noseworthy on offence, and Jack Rovere on the defensive side of the ball. Jake Thompson and Dawson Gladue were named the team’s Best Receivers and Zach Shapkin got the honour of Best Linebacker. Three players earned the Scout Award - Riley Moore, Ethan Stanley and Erik Skarsgard. Best Defensive Back went to DJ Tocher, Donovan Allen and Findley Armstrong. Best Running Back went to Fox Bell. The teams Leadership Award was shared by two players, Joseph Bell and Logan Higginson, while 25 players received the Commitment Award, by showing up to every team practice and game. As for the Rocky View Sports League Awards, the Cobras had eight players named league all-stars. Those players were Dawson Laye, Jack Rovere, Derek Lensen, DJ Tocher, Donovan Allen, Findley Armstrong, Jude Wilkinson and Noah Noseworthy. Cayne Yacey, Mitchell Koop and Riley Peters shared the Coaches Award. Other award winners included Dylan Neis winning the league's Best Offensive Player, Joseph Bell taking home Best Defensive Player, Connor Hunt won the league's Best Linebacker and Xavier Vaillancourt won Best Quarterback.
