Les Schwab Bowl: North 32, South 14 Friday, June 26, 2009

Josh Garlington, a recent graduate of Century High School, attempts to catch a touchdown pass for the North squad June 20 in the first quarter of the Les Scwhab Bowl at Hillsboro Stadium. Danny Urness (no. 3) of Thurston broke up the play.

A few images from last week's Les Schwab Bowl, played in Hillsboro for the first time in the 62-year history of Oregon's high school all star football game. The North squad (Portland-area teams) dominated the game, winning 32-14.

This was the first time I've been to Hillsboro Stadium, which is easily seen from Highway 26 when you drive west from Portland (see the satellite view here). It's a pretty nice facility, with the field set up for one or two soccer fields, baseball, and softball, and a covered grandstand that will hold about 7,000 fans. However, there are so many lines on the turf that it's sometimes hard to know which ones you should be looking at.

[left] Jack Lomax handled most of the quarterback duties for North in the game. The Lake Oswego graduate threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more in the game, and was selected as the game's MVP.

I have to say that it's nice shooting football in the summertime. Most of the football I shoot is in the fall, and high school games normally start around 7 p.m.—just when the light is fading. Even though last weekend's game didn't start until 7:30 and the weather was mostly overcast, there was plenty of light through the first half to shoot high speed, low(er) ISO action, and it's amazing how well the auto-focus system works when it can actually see what it's doing!

[right] Tony Gonzalez runs for South in the first quarter. The McKay graduate, who will play at Western Oregon University in the fall, rushed for 33 yards in the game. [below, left] Matt Nylen holds onto the ball as he is tackled by John Grill after a catch in the first quarter. The recent graduate of Clackamas High School caught four passes for 29 yards in the North's 32-14 win.