Barracudas’ Cobb to hang up his jersey if he can inspire a Desert Bowl victory

Jay Asser 09:54 15/03/2016
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  • Directing the damage: Cobb (l) has been in great form this season.

    Zavier Cobb quickly corrects himself before the words even spill out of his mouth. He begins to say “if” but immediately changes it to “when”, as in when the Dubai Barracudas win the Desert Bowl, he’s hanging up his jersey.

    The Emirates American Football League’s (EAFL) most dangerous quarterback and one of its best players has the chance to write a storybook ending to his spectacular career by capping an unbeaten season with his and the Barracudas’ first championship.

    Only the Abu Dhabi Wildcats stand in the way when the two teams meet this Friday at Dubai Sports City in Desert Bowl IV.

    Abu Dhabi are searching for a third title in four years, while the Barracudas have yet to taste ultimate glory after falling to the Dubai Stallions in their only appearance in the finale last season.

    If it wasn’t for that loss, Cobb wouldn’t be on the field this Friday, but unfinished business meant one more season to try and end his playing days with a ring.

    “I want to go out victorious and go out on top,” the dynamic signal-caller said after defeating the Al Ain Desert Foxes 33-0 in the semi-finals.

    “We have the team and the coaching staff to do that right now. When we win the Desert Bowl, this will be my last year and I’ll just come back and help out the team in other areas.

    “For a lot of these guys, that’s what we play for. That’s what I play for. It would be awesome for those guys to get that championship
    under their belt.”

    Though they’re lacking the past success that the Wildcats have enjoyed, the Barracudas certainly have no shortage of confidence – and rightly so.

    They’ve dominated all season on both sides of the ball, with their offence producing 188 points and their defence smothering opponents to surrender just 12 points en route to a jaw-dropping plus-166 point differential.

    Blowouts have become the norm and even though Abu Dhabi’s defence has rounded into form in the second half of season, Cobb doesn’t see his attack being slowed down.

    “If we continue to play the way we’ve played and the coaches continue to call the game the way they’ve been calling it through the course of the season, I don’t think anything will change,” he said.

    “I think we’ll continue to put up 20-plus points. We’re very confident, we have been throughout the whole season. That’s what we’ve been basing our game on, having confidence and pride.

    “No matter who they put on the field, I don’t think we can be beat with how we’re playing right now.”

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