Gallery: Favorite September Sports Photos

I was fully expecting an Iowa State win on their home turf, and had parked myself in the end zone to catch a game-winning touchdown when this happened. Toward the end of a game, especially one with as many breaks as this one had, everyone on the sidelines is pretty tired and we were over the wet conditions. This play came out of nowhere and as I reacted to it with a 400 mm lens, I just hoped that I had the focus right. I managed to get four frames of the collision, three of which were useable and one of which both told the story and had a clean background, relatively. Iowa State's Datrone Young (2) and kick returner Deshaunte Jones (8) collide as they go after a punt in the final minutes of the fourth quarter at a college football game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and Iowa State Cyclones at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019. The Hawkeyes won the game, 18-17. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

I like the eyes of Ihmir Smith-Marsette as Eisworth breaks up the pass on a two-point conversion attempt. Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Greg Eisworth (12) breaks up a two-point conversion attempt intended for Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette (6) during the fourth quarter of their college football game at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019. Iowa won 18-17. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Iowa Hawkeyes running back Tyler Goodson (15) leaps over Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders safety Gregory Grate Jr. (3) in the fourth quarter of their NCAA football game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Marion's Connor Whalen (3) carries the ball on a punt return against West Delaware's Kale Rempe (28) in the first half of their prep football game at West Delaware in Manchester on Friday, Sept. 6, 2019. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Cedar Rapids Kennedy's Cade Parker (35) scores on a 1-yard run as Cedar Rapids Prairie's Brody Joens (4) tries to bring him down during the first quarter of their game at Prairie High School in Cedar Rapids on Friday, Sept. 20, 2019. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)

Northern Iowa Panthers defensive lineman Elerson Smith (16) causes a fumble with a hit on Idaho State Bengals quarterback Gunnar Amos (12) during the first quarter of their game at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)

Northern Iowa Panthers running back Tyler Hoosman (32) gets a hug from a staff member after their game at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)

Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Brandon Smith (12), quarterback Nate Stanley (4) and Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Peyton Mansell (2) walk down the tunnel to warm up for the Rutgers game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Cedar Rapids Prairie players storm the field as a firework show is seen in the distance before their game at Prairie High School in Cedar Rapids on Friday, Sept. 20, 2019. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)

This photo is a case where not being prepared actually worked. Normally, I photograph football with a 600mm, a 300mm, a 70-200mm zoom and a 24-105mm in a waist pack. Since it was my first game of the season, I forgot to unpack the 300mm and bring it onto the field with me. I chose the 70-200mm since it was the preferable option as the 600mm would have been too tight and the wide angle zoom too loose. I like the sense of place that the wider telephoto lens gave to the photo and the swagger of Ihmir Smith-Marsette bounding into the end zone. Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette (6) runs into the end for a touchdown during the first quarter of their Big Ten Conference football game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

I have to admit the photo isn't really sharp but I think the action makes up for it. It could have been a combination of the heat, the artificial turf and a 600mm shooting through the heat waves rising from the turf. The frame right after this is sharp but the moment of the Rutgers quarterback making the effort to stop Colbert was gone. Iowa Hawkeyes linebacker Djimon Colbert (32) leaps over Rutgers Scarlet Knights quarterback McLane Carter (3) as Colbert runs an interception during the second quarter of their Big Ten Conference football game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Iowa Hawkeyes tight end Nate Wieting (39) celebrates as running back Mekhi Sargent (10) scores a touchdown over Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders in the first quarter of their NCAA football game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Iowa Hawkeyes running back Mekhi Sargent (10) rushes the ball as Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders safety Reed Blankenship (12) wraps up his ankle during the first quarter of their game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)

Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Tyrone Tracy Jr. (3) reacts after a 33-yard pass reception against Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders in the first quarter of their NCAA football game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Iowa Hawkeyes linebacker Kristian Welch (34) tackles Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders running back Brad Anderson (11) in the third quarter of their NCAA football game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Brandon Smith (12) celebrates with wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette (6) after a touchdown over Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders in the fourth quarter of their NCAA football game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Spencer Petras (7, top right) crosses the goal line over a pileup of players scoring a 1-yard touchdown during the fourth quarter of their game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)

Sometimes the celebration is better than the actual touchdown play. Coe's Tyler Dralle (#21) celebrates his touchdown with Coe's Colton White (#18) during the first quarter of their college football game against the Luther Norse at Clark Field at Coe College in northeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

This is pretty much full frame with a 600mm lens. I only took one frame of the punt. It also shows that good action can be photographed at smaller games and not just the power conferences or the NFL. Coe's A.J. Christensen (left) blocks the punt of Luther's Canon Reece during the third quarter of their college football game at Clark Field at Coe College in northeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Runners take off in the boys' varsity race during the Eastern Iowa Classic cross country meet at Noelridge Park in Cedar Rapids on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

When you're photographing into the sun, there's always a good chance of catching a lens flare. Which is what happened as someone stepped in front of me as I was waiting to catch the finishers. Iowa City Liberty's Jack Kinzer finishes third in the varsity boys' race at the Solon Invitational cross country meet at the Solon Recreation and Nature Area in Solon on Monday, Sept. 23, 2019. Kinzer finished in 17:07.3 minutes. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Cornell's Sydney Hancox (19) heads the ball as Coe's Mya Washburn (10) comes up short during the second half of their game at Cornell College in Mount Vernon on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)

Blues and greens are my favorite colors, and as a former swimmer I love looking at water and seeing how people interact with it, especially that moment when backstrokers emerge from the water after a turn. Washington's Sydney Jones swims in the 100-yard backstroke at a high school girls' swim meet with Cedar Rapids Washington at Kennedy High School in Cedar Rapids on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

I really like how the dark background and the light combine to make the flying sand standout. It's unfortunate that the better photos from golf are when players have difficulty like hitting into a sand trap. Xavier's Charles Allen hits out of a sand trap next to the 13th green during the 2019 CRANDIC boy's golf meet at Gardner Memorial Golf Course in Marion, Iowa on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

All the elements for a storytelling photo are there. The cup, the ball inches from the cup and the body language of the golfer reaction to the missed putt. Cedar Rapids Washington's Nile Petersen reacts after missing a putt on the 13th green during the 2019 CRANDIC boy's golf meet at Gardner Memorial Golf Course in Marion, Iowa on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

West Delaware takes the field for their game against Marion at West Delaware in Manchester on Friday, Sept. 6, 2019. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

This was a fun moment that I saw as I was watching people leave Kingston Stadium during a lightning delay. Kaitlyn Jackson of Cedar Rapids holds onto her umbrella as the stadium is evacuated during a storm at a high school football game between Cedar Rapids Jefferson and Linn-Mar at Kingston Stadium in Cedar Rapids on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

During one of the rain delays at the Iowa-Iowa State game, we heard the band enter the Jacobson Athletic Building, where we were working. Jim Slosiarek and I were covering the game and both standing on the balcony overlooking them as they waited it out with everyone else. We photographed the scene—he with his camera and I with my iPhone. A little peace and quiet in the midst of a very long day. Members of the University of Iowa marching band rest during a lightning delay at a college football game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and Iowa State Cyclones at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019. The Hawkeyes won the game, 18-17. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

This was after the second rain delay during the annual Cy-Hawk football game. The sun came out and made the colors pop.Iowa State Cyclones fans are reflected puddles of rainwater as they do the roller coaster as the sun comes out during a storm delay that halted the football game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Iowa State Cyclones in the second quarter of their college football game at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)