A high school football game ripples with drama—from the tension of close games to the cheers, and tears, of parents. The energy only increases during playoff season. From early November through the championships a month later, I attended a series of Maryland public school playoff games ac ross the region photographing players, students, fans, parents, grandparents.  My goal wasn’t to capture the games themselves—this is often done quite well by other photographers. I wanted to focus on other aspects of what was happening: the stands, the sidelines, the sadness and joy of defeat and victory (the difference is sometimes not as clear as one might expect).  There is so much emotion surrounding these games, so much humanity. That is what I have tried to show. The people I met were unfailingly generous, allowing me to photograph them in ways they probably weren’t expecting.  What follows are some of those pictures. Central vs. Sparrows Point, November 14, 2025. Jessica Stack, mother of a Sparrows Point player. Final score: Sparrows Point 34, Central 6. Credit: David Kohn Dunbar vs. Lackey, state championship, December 5, 2025. Dunbar band member. Final score: Dunbar 50, Lackey 26 Credit: David Kohn Marriotts Ridge vs. Mervo, November 21, 2025. Tyrell Ford, Mervo. Final score: Mervo 52, Marriotts Ridge 0. Credit: David Kohn Rob Fricke, father of a Marriotts Ridge player. Credit: David Kohn Marriotts Ridge players embrace after a game. Credit: David Kohn Quince Orchard vs. Wise, state championship, December 5, 2025. Wise band member. Final score: Quince Orchard 26, Wise 21. Credit: David Kohn South Carroll vs. Randallstown, November 7, 2025. South Carroll fan. Final score: South Carroll 3, Randallstown 0. Credit: David Kohn Quince Orchard player Jordan Hicks Credit: David Kohn A Dunbar High School fan Credit: David Kohn On the sidelines of a game played by Lackey High School, Indian Head. Credit: David Kohn Sparrows Point High School player Robbie Bandy Credit: David Kohn A Marriotts Ridge HIgh School player Credit: David Kohn A jubilant student from Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School in Upper Malboro Credit: David Kohn John Ford, a fan of Mervo High School Credit: David Kohn A student from Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School in Upper Malboro Credit: David Kohn Fans of Quince Orchard High School in Gaithersburg Credit: David Kohn Mervo High School player Kaden Foster heads toward the end zone. Credit: David Kohn Charles Minis, a Mervo player Credit: David Kohn A fan cheers on Wise High School players. Credit: David Kohn Mervo vs. Sherwood, MPSSAA 4A/3A state championship, December 4, 2025. Kaylen Roberts, Mervo student. Final score: Mervo 40, Sherwood 20. Credit: David Kohn A Quince Orchard High School band member Credit: David Kohn Jennifer Dudley watches Wise High School play Credit: David Kohn Leighton Curtis, left, and Kaden Foster, Mervo players, celebrate the school’s third championship in five years. Credit: David Kohn Dunbar player Kyree Anderson Credit: David Kohn Players from Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School embrace after a playoff game. Credit: David Kohn ...read more read less