Battle for the Smudgepot | REV vs RHS Football

Last night was the BIG game!  The BIG game that most of Redlands looks forward to once football season hits.  I remember, back in 2006 or maybe 2007, being at the U of R to shoot this game and it was literally standing room only!  There were fences on the track because the stands were all full and people were being sent to the track behind the end zones, where they could stand and watch the game!  That's how BIG this game is.  Of course now, with the population of each high school being diminished due to the opening of Citrus Valley, the stadium gets full, but not as full as it did back then.

So the game…

REV was favored all along but as you know, anything can happen in a football game.  The kids on both sides were decked out in their school colors, as were the parents.  Faces were painted, bodies were painted, I saw red and black tutus, blue bandanas, blue and white balloons waving in the stands, red bandanas, macaroni necklaces…yep, you read that correctly, macaroni necklaces.  Oh and did I mention boxes of mac and cheese?  I'm sure Kraft is wondering why the influx of Macaroni and cheese sales here in Redlands.  (and thank you Stater Bros. for putting it on sale for $.88 a box!).  The Mac and Cheese was because the RHS football team, had a list of the schools they were playing (note they refer to REV as Mentone High, thanks to Coach Walker and his hatred for REV) and for the mascot, instead of listing Wildcats, he/they listed Mac and Cheese.

Well, when life hands you lemons, make lemonade!  And that's EXACTLY what the REV students did!  They ran with this!  Mac and Cheese posters, boxes of mac and cheese were brought to the game which were donated to a food bank afterwards, and necklaces were made out of macaroni that I saw MANY parents wearing!  Very clever.

As for the game, it didn't disappoint.  Another thrilling year with a ton of school spirit roaring from both sides, great football, and once again, I had a lot of fun photographing it!  Congratulations REV for an outstanding win, 40-14, and holding on to that Smudgepot for another year!

Dressing alike for this game brings good luck!

The sign reads "Football is our KRAFT"

I love to see this

Seniors dream of this every year!  

#revstrong

D is for Donuts! | Valley Prep Preschoolers

Spent the morning with the cutest little donut makers!  I was really looking forward to photographing these adorable 3 year olds as they made, delivered, and ate donuts.  They were delicious, too! Thank you to Mrs. Willis, Ms. Schmidt and her entire class for inviting me into the class to take pictures.  :)

On The Sidelines! | REV Football

There is just something about those Friday night football games.  The crisp night air, the kids in the stands cheering on their team, the ever-so proud parents cheering on their sons, the cheerleaders, the band, the taunting smells coming from the snack bar, and of course…the football players.  Playing their hearts out knowing that these are the nights where they shine!  Knowing that everyone in those stands are rooting for them, cheering them on, taking the time to come and watch them play.  Do they know that for many of those people in the stands, those Friday nights in the fall are what they look forward to the most?  

I've been away from it for about 3 years now and last Friday night, stepping out on that field…. and raising that Canon to my eye….hearing that sound of my shutter click off 10 frames per second…it was good to be back!  I truly have missed it.  I miss being down there watching these kids, these young men, playing their hearts out.  Hearing the crack of their helmets hit as they tackle, or hearing them stomping by as they run past me to make that touch down, then looking into the stands as everyone jumps up cheering them on!  It may not be for everyone, but it's definitely for me!  :)  I look forward to more Friday Night Lights on the sidelines, watching some truly amazing kids!

Courtney & Danny | Serendipity Wedding