8/17 - Friday Night Lights RETURNS

It's back! Friday night lights! High School football in Iowa opens this weekend all over the state. My alma mater, Roosevelt, didn't have a game today, so I decided to attend the Dowling-Johnston game to dust off my football photography skills. 

I'm glad I did.

After shooting baseball for a while, it was a tricky transition from baseball to football, since football is much, much faster than baseball. Also, there's like a gazillion of players, umpires, aliens, zombies, fans, whatever on the field and they got in my way a lot.

But that's okay. It's a good warm-up for me. I definitely had fun watching the game and interacting with the fans at the game. It's just great to be back under the lights!

Here are the photos from the game (18 of them, btw, so give it some time to load):

Dowling seniors pose for a photo before the game against Johnston at Johnston High School in Johnston, Iowa on Friday, August 17, 2012.

Dowling seniors pose for a photo before the game against Johnston at Johnston High School in Johnston, Iowa on Friday, August 17, 2012.

Johnston seniors pose for a photo before the game against Dowling at Johnston High School in Johnston, Iowa on Friday, August 17, 2012.

Johnston's seniors Jaryd Lawrence, Sam Schade, Brock Hoffman, Kris Queck and Conner Jacobsen hold hands during the pre game against Dowling at Johnston High School in Johnston, Iowa on Friday, August 17, 2012.

Dowling senior Joey Barsetti is tackled by Johnston senior Sam Schade during the 1st quarter at Johnston High School in Johnston, Iowa on Friday, August 17, 2012.

Dowling sophomore Ryan Boyle throws a pass against Johnston during the 1st quarter at Johnston High School in Johnston, Iowa on Friday, August 17, 2012.

Dowling junior Chase Dowell rushes with the ball during the 1st quarter at Johnston High School in Johnston, Iowa on Friday, August 17, 2012.

Johnston sophomore Jordan Weddington looks for a hole to run through against Dowling during the 1st quarter at Johnston High School in Johnston, Iowa on Friday, August 17, 2012.

Johnston junior Luke McDermott sacks Dowling sophomore Ryan Boyle during the 2nd quarter at Johnston High School in Johnston, Iowa on Friday, August 17, 2012.

Johnston seniors Summoned Doswell and Paige Boyer celebrate Johnston's touchdown during the 2nd quarter at Johnston High School in Johnston, Iowa on Friday, August 17, 2012.

Johnston sophomore Jordan Weddington rushes the ball in front of a sunset against Dowling during the 2nd quarter at Johnston High School in Johnston, Iowa on Friday, August 17, 2012.

Dowling seniors Meaghan McCarthy, Jenna Lee, Abby Hougham and Maura Connolly pose for a photo after Dowling scored a touchdown against Johnston during the 2nd quarter at Johnston High School in Johnston, Iowa on Friday, August 17, 2012.

Dowling senior Matt Haack returns for a touchdown against Johnston during the 3rd quarter at Johnston High School in Johnston, Iowa on Friday, August 17, 2012.

Dowling seniors Emily Tuazon, Callie Lynch and Clare Goodwin celebrate Dowling's touchdown against Johnston during the 3rd quarter at Johnston High School in Johnston, Iowa on Friday, August 17, 2012.

Johnston senior Michael Kinning throws for a pass against Dowling during the 3rd quarter at Johnston High School in Johnston, Iowa on Friday, August 17, 2012.

The Johnson defensive line and Dowling offensive line wait for the snap during the 4th quarter at Johnston High School in Johnston, Iowa on Friday, August 17, 2012.

Dowling junior Brandon Mauro holds the ball as sophomore Nick McLellan prepares to kick the ball for an extra point against Dowling during the 4th quarter at Johnston High School in Johnston, Iowa on Friday, August 17, 2012.

Dowling head coach Tom Wilson talks to the team after the game at Johnston High School in Johnston, Iowa on Friday, August 17, 2012. The Dowling Catholic Maroons defeated the Johnston Dragons 34-16. 


To close out this post, I'm going to post a link to the Des Moines Register, showing you a story of this game written by a friend of mine, Tommy Birch. If you haven't heard of him, check out his stories at the register. He's awesome. Covers mostly high school stuff around Central Iowa.