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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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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Dunbar Knocks Coolidge out of the Play-offs

Since I came around in 2006, the Coolidge Colts have made the playoffs every year. After Friday nights game against Dunbar, they are in serious jeopardy of not. It was a tough, defensive game and Coolidge led 7-0 until the 4th quarter. Dunbar scored two touchdowns and won 14-7. Read Tony Owusu's DCSportsFan article here. As the clock flashed 0:00, the Coolidge Colts' tears and dejection were on display as if they would not play another game. Their last game of the season will prove to be meaningless as a trip to the playoffs, barring a miracle, is not likely. The disappointment shone most vividly on the faces of the seniors who have never had the chance to play in the Turkey Bowl, DC's public school championship played annually on Thanksgiving Day.

I'll photograph the Coolidge Football Colts on Thanksgiving one day. I will. Shout out to the seniors.

Wilson vs. Ballou DCIAA Football Semi Final

The Ballou Knights polished off the Wilson Tigers 43-7 to advance to the 2009 Turkey Bowl to take on HD Woodson in the DCIAA championship game. The game was pretty slow and Ballou scored, scored and scored again. Wilson proved to be no match but how did they beat Coolidge?

I saw some players preparing the old Gatorade shower on the coach bit except it was a All Sport (do they still make that) cooler with water in it. I tried to get in front of the action without getting on the field but did not succeed. The players drenched the coach and he tried to escape by running onto the field. The only problem was that Wilson just snapped the ball and was right in the middle of a play. Oops. Shout out to the Ballou marching band, coming soon...


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Way Back Wednesdays: Sacked...Almost

On October 20, 2006 my beloved Coolidge football team went up against perennial Turkey Bowl contender Dunbar High School. The game, preceded by much fanfare, was televised on ESPN and hyped as a match between two Washington DC powerhouses boasting loads of D-1 talent. Well, it didn't quite work out like that.

In one hell of an off-season before the 2006 campaign, a Coolidge assistant accepted a head coaching job at Ballou High (also in DC) and took four of the Colts top players along with him. The match-up that ESPN had scheduled included Dunbar's Arrelious Benn (Illinois/Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Nathan Bussey (Illinois/2011 NFL Draft) and Coolidge's Marvin Austin (UNC/2011 NFL Draft), Romale Tucker (Syracuse/Towson), Lamar Milstead (UVA), and Dwan Thornton. The game that was actually played was lacking Coolidge's all stars.

Coolidge brought out a team that didn't have the star power of the 2005 squad and still competed, but lost, to Dunbar. This is a shot of Coolidge freshman QB getting de-cleated shortly after firing a pass attempt.

The 6th Time is the Charm

I couldn't wait for the football season to start at the end of August and just like that, it's over. For me, it began at a dusty field in Georgetown where The Model School for the Deaf played Maret. It ended in Annapolis at Navy's Stadium where Good Counsel finally beat DeMatha. I was able to squeeze in 12 games this season. It should have been 13, but since Coolidge isn't playing in the Turkey Bowl on Thanksgiving Day, I'll be in New Hampshire.

For the past 5 years, Good Counsel football has run into the buzz saw that is DeMatha football in the WCAC championship. For the past 5 years, Good Counsel has gone back to Olney, MD without a victory. This year, my first year shooting the WCAC championship, Good Counsel beats the odds. Read about it here. It was a emotional game for both sides and I was able to get some pretty good reactions. Shout out to Louis Young who had two huge interceptions and holds the trophy below.


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Coolidge Football Practice @ 50mm

Fellow photographer Shawn Duffy is working on a 365@50 project where he takes at least one picture a day with a 50mm prime lens for 365 consecutive days. I don't plan on doing that. But I did photograph an entire Coolidge High School football practice using only my 50mm. At f/1.8, its definitely fast enough for sports, but not really long enough. War photographer Robert Capa once said, "if your pictures aren't good enough, you aren't close enough". With the 50mm, I had to get pretty close and was almost run over by a lineman. But because this was football and not war, I was ok. Shout out to former Redskins linebacker LaVar Arrington for making a special guest appearance for a post practice pep talk.

Hello McKinley Technology High School!

The prep sports seasons are over and school is almost out for the summer. But of course the public high schools here as well as many around the country are competing in 7 on 7 passing leagues. Usually my football coverage consists of orange, orange and more orange. This post includes orange but the focus is on a new color. Burgundy...or maroon.

Coach Jason Lane stepped down as head coach of the Coolidge Colts after the 2009 football season. He was then replaced by Coach Natalie Randolph in March. The media storm has died down during the off-season but I'm sure it'll kick right back up in August because it sounds like a plot from Friday Night Lights.

For now, I'm introducing McKinley Tech. But first, the good ol' orange (I'm gonna make my way back eventually).

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.

   

McKinley Tech Football...and so it begins.

August is here and football practice on the local high school scene has started. For the past four football seasons, I'd been reporting live from 6315 5th St. NW aka Calvin Coolidge High School. It's like I graduated! Some things went down in March and former Coolidge coach Jason Lane is now leading the helmeted high-schoolers at McKinley Tech. Now I'm shooting them. Colt no more. Trainer for now. Shout out to the Maroon...or Burgundy...I should probably figure that out.

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