I had the opportunity to shoot Saturday night’s matchup between East Carolina University and Old Dominion University in Norfolk, and let’s just say it didn’t go as planned. I came ready with my Nikon Z9 paired with my Nikon 400mm f/2.8G ED AF lens, along with my brand-new Nikon Z8 paired with the Nikon 135mm f/1.8 S Plena lens for more close-up work. But, in all my excitement, I forgot the most critical piece of equipment—my Nikon FTZ II mount adapter. Without it, I couldn’t connect the 400mm lens to my Z9! So, I had to shoot the entire game with just the Z8 and 135mm lens.
At first, I was in full panic mode, thinking, “How on earth am I going to cover a football game with just a 135mm lens?” But after regrouping, I decided to lean into it. While I couldn’t capture the long shots I had hoped for, the 135mm allowed me to focus on the intense, up-close moments—the raw emotions of the players and some dramatic action right in front of me. It wasn’t the plan, but it turned out to be a creative challenge, and I still walked away with some fantastic shots.
Now, about the game itself—this one had all the drama of a matchup between two schools only 2 1/2 hours apart. ECU, fresh off a commanding 42-3 win against Norfolk State, another local school, was looking to build on their momentum. ODU, on the other hand, was coming off a heart-wrenching 23-19 loss to South Carolina, a game in which they arguably beat themselves with costly mistakes.
ECU got on the board first, but after missing the extra point, they only held a 6-0 lead. ODU scored in the second quarter and took a slim 7-6 lead into halftime, making it anyone’s game. The third quarter saw ECU regain control, scoring a touchdown and converting a two-point attempt to go up 14-7. They added a field goal to stretch the lead to 17-7, but ODU answered back with a crucial touchdown to cut the deficit to 17-14 as the quarter ended.
The fourth quarter had its share of excitement too. ECU hit a 50-yard field goal to extend their lead to 20-14, and they seemed poised to put the game away as they drove deep into ODU territory. However, ODU’s defense came up big, intercepting a pass in the end zone to keep their hopes alive. From there, ECU shifted to a conservative strategy, running the ball and the clock. They punted with under two minutes left, giving ODU one last shot. In a thrilling moment, ODU ran the punt back for what appeared to be the game-tying touchdown, only for it to be called back due to a holding penalty. That call ended up sealing their fate, as they couldn’t muster any more magic, and ECU hung on for a 20-14 win, improving to 2-0 on the season, while ODU fell to 0-2.
It was a gritty, windy, and at times chaotic game, with strong gusts even tangling the end zone netting with the goal post. Facilities crew finally freed the netting with a boom lift at halftime. Despite all the challenges, both on the field and with my gear, the night turned into a memorable one for both football and photography.
You can view my full gallery from this game here.