“It is nice when the 2 Cochrane groups get collectively. Plenty of these children have performed since they have been in atom, by way of peewee and bantam. Now they’re in highschool and it is only a nice alternative to get on the sector and compete.”
Bragging rights are on the road as Cochrane’s two high-school soccer groups get set to face one another this Friday.
The Bow Valley Bobcats and Cochrane Cobras will take one another on Sept. 16, with kick-off set for 4 p.m. on the Spray Lakes turf subject behind Bow Valley Excessive College.
Bobcats head coach Dustin Paul mentioned he is “pumped” to see his gamers tackle their native rivals.
“I’ve had this one circled on the calendar,” admitted Bow Valley’s first-year head coach. “[Cochrane] is at all times the one you’ve circled on the calendar.”
As a coach with the Cochrane Lions minor soccer program for a few years, Paul mentioned he’s conversant in most of the Cobras gamers, who he has coached beforehand on the atom, peewee, and bantam age teams.
“I do know these gamers properly, and I’m actually trying ahead to getting on the sector and enjoying these guys,” he mentioned.
After two defeats to begin the season, the Bobcats are nonetheless in search of their first win of the 2022 Rocky View Sports activities Affiliation (RVSA) marketing campaign. The staff’s most up-to-date outing was a 24-7 defeat by the hands of the still-unbeaten W.H. Croxford Cavaliers Sept. 9, within the Bobcats’ first house recreation of the 12 months.
In line with Paul, the Bobcats stayed within the contest for the primary two quarters, solely trailing Croxford 10-7 at halftime. However a number of defensive errors led to the Cavaliers extending their lead by two further touchdowns to see out the end result.
“Realistically, it was a pick-six and blown protection, in any other case that may have been a totally completely different recreation,” Paul mentioned. “I wouldn’t say [we] fizzled out – extra simply psychological gaffes. However that’s what you’d count on with a younger staff like we’ve got. They’re not going to be spot-on each single play, however they’re undoubtedly doing their jobs, placing the work in, and getting the place we would like them to be. I’m so pleased with these guys already.”
Whereas they fell quick on the scoreboard, Paul mentioned Bow Valley’s home-opener was nonetheless a celebratory affair. He mentioned a big crowd got here out to help the Bobcats, and the event was handled as a spectacle, with meals vehicles, a merchandise desk, music, and an announcer including to the colourful event.
“I feel it was in all probability the largest crowd I’ve seen at a Bobcats recreation since again once I performed 20 years in the past,” mentioned Paul. “We had merchandise, a 50-50 raffle, music, an announcer – we had the entire shebang. The meals vehicles did extraordinarily properly. We had 4 meals vehicles and I feel three of them almost ran out of meals.”
The Bobcats could have a troublesome process forward of them this Friday. Cochrane Excessive – the RVSA’s perennial powerhouse, having received the seven-team division six years in a row – is at present 2-0 on the season. The Cobras, who’re additionally the eight-time defending Tier 3 provincial champion, have began the 2022 season in sometimes dominant trend, outscoring opponents 93-27 of their two video games up to now.
Cochrane’s two video games within the RVSA included a 44-27 win over Bert Church Aug. 26 and a 49-0 shut-out of the Chestermere Lakers.
With a bye within the RVSA schedule final week, the Cobras had an exhibition recreation lined up towards the Tier 1 St. Francis Browns of Calgary, however the recreation was known as off on account of a scarcity of referee availability. In line with Cobras head coach Rob McNab, the 2 groups squared off the next day in an unofficial managed scrimmage.
“We crashed and bashed for a few hours and it was enjoyable,” he mentioned. “They scored some, we scored some. We held our personal athletically. Bodily, they’re a bit larger and stronger, however our children stepped up and I used to be fairly pleased with them.
“We performed properly. Athletically, we will match up with most groups within the province.”
Reiterating Paul’s feedback, McNab mentioned the Cobras gamers are excited to tackle their cross-town rivals on Friday, and anticipates a giant crowd.
“Final 12 months that place was rocking [when we played Bow Valley,” he said. “It was packed. It’s just one of those Friday Night Lights things you just want to see in Canada every week.
“It’s great when the two Cochrane teams get together,” the long-serving coach added. “A lot of those kids have played since they were in atom, through peewee and bantam. Now they’re in high school and it’s just a great opportunity to get on the field and compete.”
