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All season, Frenship had found a way to win by gaining that one extra yard, getting that all-important touchdown or making that extra big play on defense.
In the Class 4A Division I Region I Final at Jones AT&T Stadium Saturday afternoon, it was Denton Guyer that took that ability and put an end to the sixth-ranked Tigers’ perfect season. Sam Alspach’s 24-yard field goal as time expired brought the Wildcats all the way back from a 21-point first-quarter deficit for a 37-35 victory.
“I think the thing that happened mostly from the second quarter on and into the second half was we were having a hard time blocking their defensive front,” Frenship coach Brad Davis said. “Big plays kept us in the game, but we never got consistent where I get into a rhythm calling plays and getting a drive going, at least after the first quarter we didn’t. The first quarter was all ours and then we had to hang on, and we hung on until about two seconds to go in the game.”... (Continue reading End of the Line)
View more game photos HERE.
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Here is my Missed Photo of the Game:
Down 21-7 with 7:14 left in the third quarter, Denton Guyer's Antonio Burton blocked a Frenship punt and recovered it for a touchdown. To me, this was the turning point of the game... and I missed it. Granted, I got some nice frames of Burton scooping up the football, crossing the endline, and celebrating his touchdown, but I wanted this blocked punt. To me, this punt was unique because most blocked punts are made when the player dives on the punter's foot - this one was made high in the air. Also, this play scared Frenship into giving up a safety instead of punting with 3:06 remaining in the 4th quarter. (A decision that likely cost Frenship the game). Missed moments and mistakes are life's best lessons.
What could I have done differently? I've been thinking about that off and on for the past couple days. I suppose the easiest thing would have been to let go of the focus button when I initially knew I had the punter in focus (I use the thumb focus button on my Nikon D2HS so I can leave the focus alone and keep firing off frames if needs be). In this instance I must have kept my thumb on the focus button which is why as the play continued and my framing adjusted the camera focused on the brick background. A second option could have been to change my focus metering from the center point to the diamond. Third, I could have shot with a wider lens (70-200). This is the second 'missed' blocked punt this football season and both were when I was debating between using my 300mm or switching to the 70-200mm.
Below is the uncropped series of photos on the play.
