After two decades of dominating Tier 3 high school football in Alberta, the Cochrane Cobras have set their sights on winning one of the Tier 1 high school football championships in Alberta.

Following a 47-0 shellacking of the Springbank Phoenix on Sept. 29, Cobras head coach Rob McNab broke the news to the players that the Cobras were declaring for the Larry Wilson Tier 1 provincial playoffs.

"We just looked at it and with the Brian Fryer league taking place and taking some of the real big schools that we don't know much about, it was a decision to let's get some meaningful games in November," says McNab.

"I have full confidence in our kids, and I have full confidence in our coaching staff in the way we prepare," he says. "We're going to have to be on point, there's no question about that. We're going have to be healthy, first of all, and we're going to have to be mentally checked in."

He says it's a decision they had been weighing since the start of the season.

Starting quarterback Christian Golem is excited about the opportunity it provides the team. Before the announcement, one of the highlights of the season was an exhibition game against the Holy Trinity Academy Knights that's being played here on Thursday. The Knights are the top-ranked team in Tier 2.

"But now that we've learned that we're moving up to division one, that's a huge challenge, and the thought of having the chance to bring back a division one championship to Cochrane is a really good feeling."

Football Alberta executive director Tim Enger says the Cobras decision created a buzz in the football world. He says they run a good program, but that it made sense to stay in tier 3 all these years because of their student population and who they face in the regular season. 

"They don't get any calibre of competition beyond Tier 2 in their league, so for them to go after a much higher prize is a credit to their program.

"You know, people have been asking them to move up for years, and now they are. Let's see what happens."

The Cobras will be one of two teams in zone 2 in the Larry Wilson Tier One playoffs. They'll be facing the Foothills Falcons in the first round.

There's a second Tier 1 championship called the Brian Fryer division for schools with higher student populations that was piloted last season.

"If you want to go for the highest prize in the land, then basically you can declare for the Brian Fryer division, and it gets ranked, so it has nothing to do with where you come from. If they pick eight teams from Calgary, that's just the way it is."

In other Rocky View league play, the Bow Valley Bobcats fell to the George McDougall Mustangs, 47-7.

The Bobcats wrap up their regular season at home against Springbank on Thursday night. Both teams are winless on the season, with the Bobcats ahead in the standings.

The W. H. Croxford Cavaliers play the Bert Church Chargers the following night.

The Cobras have one home game remaining in the regular season against the Cavaliers. It's anticipated the Cavaliers will provide the Cobras with their toughest challenge in Rocky View play this season and will determine who finishes first in the regular season. The Cavaliers are ranked number two in Alberta's Tier 2 play and the Cobras are number one in Tier 3.

cobrasBennett Fauth stops a Phoenix player in the Sept. 29 game on the Rundle College field.
​​
Cobras 99Head coach Rob McNab announced the decision to compete in Tier 1 provincials after the win over Springbank.