After a beautiful 80 degree day, someone decided to switch off the heat just before the start of the yellow flag filled Minisink Valley versus Port Jervis football game in Slate Hill last night. Thankfully, we had checked the weather before heading out and grabbed enough layers to keep us warm throughout the night!
As practice got underway, Loretta and I set ourselves near where all of the players were practicing pass catching. The light was perfect and some of the catches we caught made some of these guys look like NFL stars! One of them (in the gallery below) actually looks like a classic Michael Jordan – just with football pads …
After about 30 minutes, all of the players left the field, the officials arrived and everyone got ready for what was sure to be a great Friday Night Lights game!
Almost immediately after starting the game, Port Jervis landed a Safety and scored 2 points. Not wanting this to become a regular thing, Minisink fought back – and fought back hard. As things heated up between the two teams, the officials started throwing yellow flags for holding, pass interference and unsportsmanlike conduct. They threw so many flags that it seemed like every play just before half time had one. After half time, it was no different … and it eventually led to a Port Jervis player being ejected from the game! In the end, Minisink only let Port Jervis get one touch down – ending the game 28-to-8!
Overall, there were two things that I’ll remember about last night …
The first was the half time game between the Minisink Youth Football Mighty Mites. These little guys ran around the field, tackled each other and played the game as if Friday Night was THEIR night!
The second would have to be my close encounter with Jesse Valenti (#7) along the sidelines just ahead of the Minisink Valley end-zone. As he broke away and ran up the field, I squatted on the side near the 10 yard line and captured every shot of him coming right towards me – until I noticed that he was getting a little too close for comfort! Just a few seconds before impact, I stopped shooting, stood up and darted for the fence as quickly as possible with Jesse just a few short feet behind me running at full speed. Luckily, I was fast enough to avoid being tackled and was even applauded by the crowd standing nearby. One spectator even yelled, “Nice move cameraman!”
Gotta love football season!
