Willow Creek Composite Cobras win big on bittersweet seniors’ night

By Tim Bryson Co-coach, WCCHS Cobras football team

With the pending province-wide teachers’ strike shutting down all school activities this week, the Willow Creek Composite High School Cobras made sure they lived for the moment with a dominating 35-0 win over the Winston Churchill Bulldogs of Lethbridge last Friday, Oct. 3, at the Snake Pit.
With the game being the last regular season home game, it was also Seniors’ Night, as each Grade 12 player was introduced with their parents.
The game started off with a bang, as Logan Hurlburt got way off the ground to intercept a pass on the first play of the game. Two plays later, quarterback Briggs Baker hit Syler Sabey from 24 yards out for a quick 7-0 lead. The game settled into a defensive affair for a while, with both teams struggling to get any consistent offence. However, in the second quarter, Baker hit Hurlburt down the right sideline from 54 yards out to stretch the lead to 14-0. Later in the quarter, Josh Penner forced and recovered a fumble on the same play to set the Cobras up deep in the Bulldog end, and Hurlburt scored on a one-yard plunge to stretch the lead to 21-0 at the half.
The second half started slowly for the Cobras, as if the halftime break dulled their edge. However, they got cooking again in the fourth quarter, as Micah Rice took over with two interceptions and a great punt return to give the Cobras great field position. The Cobras’ fourth touchdown was set up by a great pass and run play from Baker to Sabey for 30 yards. Seth Ohlheiser moved from centre to fullback and scored his first ever touchdown. It was another very cool moment in a night full of great moments. The Cobras final major was scored by Hurlburt on a 23-yard run around the left side.
For the second week in a row, the offence showed great balance, churning out 164 yards on 28 carries, while Briggs Baker added another 130 yards and two touchdowns through the air. Hurlburt chipped in with 83 greasy yards on 12 carries, while Baker had an outstanding 38-yard run in the second quarter. Syler Sabey had 50 yards on three receptions and a touchdown, while Hurlburt added 63 yards on two receptions. Easton Wright had the other Cobra pass reception. The 294 net yards was another efficient showing by the “O”. It was also another game with no quarterback sacks or holding penalties by the offensive line.
The defence was paced by “Mr. Everywhere” Karter Friesen. The Grade 10 defensive end was in on 10 tackles, including two quarterback sacks, two other tackles for losses, a forced fumble and a quarterback pressure on one of Rice’s interceptions. What Friesen lacks in experience at his position is more than made up for by his non-stop motor and quickness. Logan Hurlburt had nine tackles, an interception and another pass defended. Kael Smith had five tackles, including two for losses. Josh Penner was the immovable object at nose tackle, making four tackles, including one for a loss and a forced and recovered fumble on the same play. Colby Symonds had a tackle for a loss, along with a fumble recovery (it always pays to be near the action) and an excellent pass breakup. Micah Rice had his best game as a Cobra, intercepting two passes and doing outstanding work on kick coverage.
The defence had an excellent night, yielding a paltry 51 yards on 22 carries. There were seven run plays for losses. The defensive unit limited Churchill to two completions on 10 pass attempts for 28 yards. When we factor in the losses on two quarterback sacks and a team loss on a bad snap, the D held our guests to 52 net yards. In the last two games, the defence didn’t yield any points and held our opponents to a measly 166 yards. That’s a pretty good total for one game. For two games, that’s outstanding work.
As Tim Enger at Football Alberta said in his weekly rankings, “Friday Night lights are out…for now”. School Sports Alberta posted a document outlining a return to play, depending on the end of the strike. A couple of those scenarios involve provincial finals being pushed to the end of November. After the game on Friday, there were more than a few tears shed by Grade 12 players, as they faced the possibility that they had played their last game.
I’m an optimist and think the lights of Friday night will be back on sooner than later.