Seems like yesterday we were sweating our asses off in Coeur d’Alene, getting ready for another season of Capital Eagles football. The days were long, the sun was hot, and the possibilities were endless.
Tonight, in the cold October rain in Rexburg, the Eagles lost a heartbreaker to Madison, bringing the 2026 season to an end.
Just like that, it's over.
That's the thing about football seasons. In August, it feels like you've got forever. Then you blink, and you're standing on a wet sideline watching the final seconds tick off the clock, wishing there was just one more play, one more drive, one more Friday night.
I hate that it ended tonight. Not because these kids deserved to win more than anybody else, but because I know how much they put into getting here. And selfishly, because I wasn't ready for it to be over.
More Than Football
I've had the privilege of photographing these guys all season, from the heat of summer to the rain tonight. I've watched them celebrate big wins, shake off tough losses, make incredible plays, and pick each other up when things didn't go their way.
And through it all, one thing has stood out to me.
These kids play football the way it's supposed to be played.
Between the whistles. Hard, physical, and with respect for the game. They compete, they hit, they get hit, and they get back up. They stand up for their teammates, they keep fighting, and they leave it on the field.
That's something worth being proud of.
Sure, there were games that could have gone differently. Plays we'd all love to have back. Opportunities missed. That's football. But there were also moments of absolute brilliance, incredible effort, and a whole lot of reasons to be excited about what this program is becoming.
More importantly, there's a great group of young men wearing those black and gold uniforms. And I've genuinely enjoyed getting to know them, even if most of our interactions involved me pointing a camera at them from the sidelines.
To the Seniors
This one is especially for you.
For some of you, tonight was the last time you'll ever put on a football helmet. The last time you'll run onto a field with your teammates. The last time you'll stand in a huddle, hear the cadence, and line up across from somebody who wants to knock you on your ass.
That's a tough thing to wrap your head around.
But here's what I hope you understand: football has given you something that will stay with you long after you hang up your cleats.
You've learned how to work when you're tired. How to keep going when things aren't going your way. How to trust the people standing next to you. How to be accountable, how to lead, how to lose, and how to win.
You've learned that nothing worth having comes without effort. That showing up matters. That doing the little things right matters. And that sometimes, no matter how hard you work or how badly you want something, things don't go your way.
Those lessons are worth a hell of a lot more than anything on a scoreboard.
You all have bright futures ahead of you. Football might be part of that future for some of you, and for others, your next chapter will take you somewhere completely different. Either way, I hope you take everything this game has taught you and put it to work.
And remember, you will always be Capital Eagles.
Thank You
To the players, coaches, parents, and everyone involved with Capital football, thank you.
Thank you for letting me hang around the sidelines with my cameras all season. Thank you for trusting me to document these moments. Thank you for the big plays, the celebrations, the emotion, the grit, and the occasional perfectly timed collision that makes for one hell of a photograph.
I hope that years from now, when these kids look back at the photos, they'll remember more than the scores. I hope they remember their teammates, the bus rides, the locker room, the practices, the laughs, and what it felt like to be part of something bigger than themselves.
That's why I love photographing football. The photos might capture a fraction of a second, but the memories last a lifetime.
And to the families who have followed along, shared my photos, read these ramblings, and supported these kids all year, thank you. It's been a blast.
Already Looking Forward
As much as I'm going to miss Friday nights, I can't help but be incredibly stoked about what's coming.
There is a ton of young talent in this program. I've watched many of these kids develop over the last few years, and the growth has been pretty damn impressive. I've seen the effort, the improvement, and the potential.
Next year could be something special.
Of course, potential doesn't win football games. The work starts now. In the weight room, at practice, and in all those moments when nobody is watching. The opportunity is there, but these guys will have to go earn it.
And I can't wait to see what they do.
For now, the uniforms get put away, the stadium lights go dark, and the 2026 Capital Eagles football season becomes a collection of memories, friendships, lessons, and photographs.
It didn't end the way we wanted. But that doesn't take away from what these guys accomplished or the people they've become along the way.
To the 2026 Capital Eagles: Thank you for one hell of a ride. I'm proud of you guys.
And to the 2027 Eagles?
I'm already counting the days.
GO EAGLES!
