Riverdale Baptist @ Landon Football

Headed out to Landon again for their late Friday afternoon game against Riverdale Baptist School. The game was pretty close at the beginning but Landon pulled away and got the win 31-7. The game was called mid-way through the 4th quarter due to a neck injury to a Riverdale Baptist player. An ambulance was called to get him off of the field. I hope the kid is ok.

Coolidge @ HD Woodson

The game was originally scheduled for 7p Friday night, but luckily for me, it was rescheduled for 11a Saturday morning. Yes, more daylight for me. And this time, I brought the 400mm.

There is a little history between these two. HD Woodson has knocked Coolidge out of the playoffs the past two years and judging from the game Saturday, they have a lot to say to each other. Coolidge jumped out to a 13-0 lead but eventually gave up 24 unanswered points to lose the game. Read about it here. Lots of athletes, a lot of intensity and a whole lot of trash talk made for some pretty good pictures. Shout out to linebackers and running backs kicking field goals and punting. It's an interesting sight.

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DeMatha @ Archbishop Carroll Soccer

It was pretty cloudy and I thought it was definitely going to rain. Good thing it didn't. But a 5:15p start didn't help my cause toward the end of the game as the light began to fade...quickly. DeMatha jumped out to a fast 3-0 lead in a game that I thought would be pretty competitive. What is it about those Carroll Lions? Shout out to that lady doing Christianity conversions in 30 minutes or less in the parking lot.

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Mercersburg @ Landon Football

Rare. A Friday football game played under natural light. Probably the most compelling reason that I was at that game in particular. Mercersburg Academy is a team from Pennsylvania that probably made a long trip to Bethesda that day and an even longer trip back. Landon pretty much had their way (hopefully evident in the pictures) in a 30-6 win in which Mercersburg scored in the final seconds of the game and was genuinely excited about it. Read about it here. Shout out to programs that are rebuilding.

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Cloudy with a Chance of Smoke

Nothing special about this game. Landon beat Archbishop Carroll 21-0 in a non-league game. But when I looked over at the cheerleaders cheering, I noticed smoke billowing up in the distance. Then I heard the sirens. I still don't know what happened over there, but I think I, along with the crowd, missed about four plays of the football game. Shout out to distractions.

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Ballou @ Coolidge Football

I feel like if this was the SuperBowl, ESPN would talk for days and days about the story lines of this football game. But it's not, so I'll fill you in.

The current head coach of Ballou used to be an assistant to the current head coach of Coolidge. Three years ago when the current head coach of Ballou took the Ballou job, he also took a handful of Coolidge's best players. Yeah, because for some reason, DC public high school athletics works something like free agency but without the contracts. Which is why Coolidge's junior running back from last year is now Ballou's senior running back. Confusing I know, but drama nonetheless.

Oh and Ballou scored a TD with no time left to tie the game. They didn't have a kicker, so they had to go for two...and the win. Everyone thought that the two-point conversion was successful...except the ref signaling an incomplete pass. All hell broke loose. Read about it here. Shout out to kickers.


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O-Lineman : No Love

They are the most important component of an offense, yet we have no idea who they are. They never score touchdowns, they never touch the ball (except for the center, but that doesn't really count) and they flat out get no love, until now.

Last Wednesday, I shot yet another Coolidge High School practice. But this time I wanted to make it interesting. I spent the whole practice with the O-Line. It's hard work and no one wants to do it. They line up and clash with the biggest, strongest guys on the other team play after play after play -- all in the name of their more recognizable teammates' feats. They don't want the glow. They want the glory. And in a game of inches, every yard earned is their satisfaction. Shout out to the blockers.