The Negative Image of Each Other...

My playoff trip this particular week took a different path than the last couple of weeks of going to the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. This week I was going to Lubbock to cover Stamford and Stratford. The games was being played at Lubbock-Cooper High School Pirate Stadium, which I have to give huge props to, this is by far the best lit high school football stadium I've even shot it. It was so bright I could even use a teleconverter without pushing my ISO to too crazy a level, and there was no light falloff in the end zones like pretty much every other place I've shot. Now, back to the game, in particular the teams' names... Stmaford and Stratford, as if there names being close wasn't hard enough to deal with, the two teams wore exactly the same uniforms! Right down to having the same "S" logo on their helmets.

There was glaring difference between the two teams though. Stamford runs a spread out, run-n-gun offense, while Stratford was a lot more old school, running two tight ends, two back sets taking advantage of a lot of fullback dives and misdirection. It's not uncommon for Stratford's drives to last 6+ minutes. Stamford on the other hand can score quickly from anywhere on the field.

The game started out with Stratford slowly and methodically moving the ball down the field taking 6+ minutes for a 55-yard drive. Stamford then got the ball and quickly got the ball down the field to score. After that it kind of set the tone for the game. Stratford would get the ball and move it slowly, but after scoring on the first drive of the game their drives would stall, including a really nice interception in the end zone by Stamford defensive back Dalton Mathis. Stamford won the game 27-7 scoring on four of its six possessions, one of which was the end of the first half. The defense looked really great in this game and they proved that they could beat the tough physical game with a strong defense and now were only two wins away from a state title.

Driving all over the state, part 1...

It's getting to that part of the year when there aren't a whole lot of games left to cover and the most important ones so the distances get even farther. Like having to go to Lubbock (150 miles west) on one night and then to Dallas (180 miles east), but that's another post. The first game was the Class A state semifinal game between Albany and Stratford. It was a rematch of last year's state semifinal game that Albany lost 28-0.

This year's game was different, but it started out looking the same. Stratford started our with a drive that looked like the game was going to be really quick. Stratford's first drive lasted almost 10 minutes! However, they couldn't score on it. Two plays later Albany (completely out of character) threw a long pass for a 65-yard touchdown. That pretty much set the tempo for the game. During the next drive Albany picked off a pass and returned it for a touchdown. After that it was the typical run it down your throat football that the Lions are know for.

Late in these game with such emotions running wild if the game is in hand I usually put down the long glass and start roaming around the bench area looking for the emotional photos. This is one of the great things about high school football is being able to walk around and make photos in the bench area... try doing that at a college or pro game! While I was watching everyone was crowding around Albany head coach Denney Faith. Since most of the starters play both ways they were out on the field as the clock expired but a couple of the kids and assistant coaches were jumping around. They mobbed the coach and one of the assistants in his excitement ended up pulling down coach Faith and I think kids thought it was a dogpile, the top photo is from the start of it. The funny part is after the pile let up on coach Faith his glasses were missing a lens and all twisted metal! No one was hurt and I mentioned it to the reporter writing about the story. He was able to get a good quote about it and mention it in his story.