High School Football Playoffs

Our first football playoff game today was truly one of the best I've ever seen. We had a couple of real nail-biters earlier in the season with some last minute turn-arounds, but we prevailed and made it to the first round of playoffs. Today, we faced off against Pana, a bigger school that also had a 7 and 2 record. They trounced us pretty soundly the first half, but were only ahead 14-12 in the fourth quarter. We were going to try for a conversion to tie the score but it was unsuccessful. The boys had to move all the way back to the middle of the field. It looked pretty damn hopeless at that point. With five seconds left on the clock, the quarterback threw the ball a God-awful number of yards to our receiver who was waiting in our end zone. As the buzzer sounded ending the game, he caught it!
The last image was the scene of the aftermath of the game. The coach was so emotional when he talked to his team on the field afterward. He said, "This is the best place to live, and it's the best place to play football." I think I've got to agree with him on that.

#1

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Nice action and Reaction. You sure are lucky since they are doing it in the day time

I believe all the play off games are in the day time. Next week we play St. Joe-Ogden, the #1 team in the state. Last year, none of the other teams could even score against them, and they were winning with 42+ points to nothing every game. Until they came to our town, that is. They only beat us 7-3, and we had a touchdown called back during the first quarter. I may go to this next game even though it's away. I have a feeling it's gonna be another nail-biter!

Were you using the 70-200mm f/4L lens at all there? I'm thinking about getting one and curious to see its capability

I really like #2, nice moment!

Thanks for your comments. Actually, I only shot one of these with the 70-200 (#2). Numbers 1,3, and 4 were shot with a Sigma consumer lens that I got second-hand for 65 bucks on www.keh.com. I hadn't used it much and wanted to try it out, since I already have dozens of other football shots for the yearbook. If you're going to get a lens for football, consider one that's at least 300mm or consider buying an extender for a lens of lesser focal length. In my experience, the 70-200 f/4 isn't really the best lens to use for sports. I'm considering the 200mm f/2.8L and a 1.4x extender as an alternative, since it's within my budget.

Liza,

Don't overlook the Sigma 120-300mm f 2.8, as it is a very good football lens (when I use my 70-200, I almost ALWAYS miss the extra 100mm) and gives you the extra reach without losing the f-stop to the 1.4 TC. But, it's more $$$, which can't be ignored

Depends what your plans are. If you're gonna always shoot outdoors in the daytime, the 200 f2.8 will be fine.

I would stick with the 70-200MM 2.8...Better glass. 200MM to 300MM isn't really that much difference,A tiny bit of cropping is worth it unless your selling your pics to sports take pics for the yearbook and bought the 70-200 2.8 IS, but I work for a photographer...If your going up into that Reach "300MM" I would save up for a used 400MM 2.8 instead... that way you see an improvement in focal.

I didn't think the extra 100mm would make a difference, but found out that it does to me. I liked that extra reach that the Sigma zoom gave me, even though it isn't L glass. I may have to check out the 120-300, though. Maybe I can get a good used one for next year's football and baseball seasons.

Thanks for your input!

Just checked out the price on that Sigma 120-300. Ouch! I could afford the 70-200 f/2.8L (non-IS) and a teleconverter for less than that one. I think I'll stick with my original plan to buy the prime, though. I used primes for years when I still shot film, so zooming in and out with my feet doesn't bother me.