I love this group of guys.
Used to be a time when getting 80 percent or more of the senior football players at East Marshall to come to Stewart Photography for their senior images would be an after thought for us.
The climate around photography certainly has changed things for every full time photographer in recent years... and so has the competition. So when I glance at the picture of the senior guys now and see SO many familiar faces... I won't lie... It makes me feel great to be a fellow Mustang.
So when Brock Pieters became one of THIRTEEN senior football players in our camp... I was excited. And when he told me that I was his first choice... I couldn't help but want to break my back for the guy.
Many of you may have already seen Brock and I's little gag from a couple weeks back where we dressed up like twins... Well... let me restate that. He dressed up like a DORK... and it happened to match what I wear every day at the studio. It was Homecoming week at East Marshall... and it was "Twin Day" that he was missing... and I made sure he didn't miss a thing! Thanks for playing along, bro... Good times.
Really the whole session was a good time... Brock's mom, Tracy seemed tickled with the idea of missing a little work... Brock didn't mind missing a few classes... and it was a lot of East Marshall discussion per usual.
A lot has happened in the couple weeks since his session. The boys got a thrilling 33-31 Homecoming win... and then faced the other end of the spectrum last week in a win they desperately wanted... but did not get.
The schedule gets considerably more difficult in the last three contests of the season for Brock and his teammates. Perfect execution and perhaps a break or two will have to be in order for the Mustangs to grab that playoff bid that, even in it's new format, has eluded the district, in one form or another, for 20 seasons.
But you know what? Even if it doesn't happen, this group of brothers has already done something that this alumnus won't soon forget...
They've never quit.
Sure... I'm guessing the guys would like a couple more W's on the left side of the ledger... who wouldn't? But after the program hit rock bottom a year ago at 0 wins... and 9 losses.... it would've been really easy for them... especially in close games... to take a look down at their jerseys... look around at each other... and figure... we're gonna lose.
Just like winning can become contagious at some schools... losing can infect a program... and a school... and dare I say... an entire community if someone doesn't stand up and shout at the top of their lungs that they've had ENOUGH!
There's a common bond among this group of guys... and that bond is that each and every one of them realizes... that Stewart Photography senior No. 14 never got the chance to get his senior pictures taken here.
I have little doubt that Mason was coming my way this fall for pictures... and every chance I've gotten... with the help of several guys that felt compelled to honor their fallen teammate, we've done just that.... honored his memory.
Brock's mom brought me a candid of her son and Mason shoulder to shoulder... Nos. 56 and 68... like it should've been on the offensive and defensive lines this year. Brock borrow Mason's old jersey... and I knew exactly where I was gonna go with this. It's not the first time that I've sat here and cried through the creation of a tribute to Mason this fall... at least three times that I can recall already. That's when I know I've done my best work...
It's my hope that despite having tremendous odds stacked against them in the games that remain... that the guys have saved their best work for last, too.
Regardless of how things turn out, guys... you've brought discipline, respectability, and accountability back... and you will never be forgotten... Mason would be proud.
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