BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Friday was a big game between Bentonville High School and Fayetteville High School, a rematch of the state championship last year. Bentonville ultimately took home the win 41 to 10, but Al Hertzburg left with something different.
Hertzburg has been a photographer for 25 years. He moved to Bentonville within the last two years and has been taking photos for the school's teams completely free of charge. He uploads them to his website Focus Photography and lets parents and students download them free of charge.
"I've gotten to know a lot of really great people and I just love the sports photography. It's the best seat in the house," Hertzburg said. "I've gotten so much from doing it over the years, and I've been blessed. So it's a way to pass it on."
He was taking photos on the sidelines at the big game near the 25th yard line and was watching the game closely.
"I generally looked to see where receivers are for the very reason that I don't want to get hit. And somehow, I missed this running back that ended up catching the pass," Hertzburg said. "I looked up, and there they were. And I thought, this isn't going to be good."
He found himself involved in the play and immediately got hit by two players.
"I'm crouched down, and I looked up, I had enough time to see what was going to happen and then start to roll away with my gear and sort of soften the blow," Hertzburg said. "I could even hear one of them go, oh no. The players were both concerned, but I was fine."
Luckily, he had no serious injuries from the incident but now has thousands of dollars of damage to his camera and his lens.
"The lens that was damaged was about $8,000 or $9,000 new. I don't have a replacement for the one that was damaged. That's a long lens that I use for football," Hertzburg said. "I thought, well, I'll be sore tomorrow. But other than the normal soreness you get from being 70 and doing football games, there was, there was nothing else."
Wanting to get her stepdad back on the sidelines as soon as possible, Amanda Villa created a GoFundMe page. It's already up to over $1,000.
"He had sent a clip of the game and said, check out this particular play. And I was like, oh, ouch, wow. And then a little bit later, he's talking about camera equipment and how much damage. And I put two and two together, and I said in all caps, I'm like, wait, that was you," Villa said. "He does so much for other people constantly, not only our family, but the community. And second, I've lived in Bentonville for 15 years, and this is a community that gives back to people in need."
"I'm still a little sheepish about it but thank you to everybody that's contributed," Hertzburg said. "It's humbling that people are so willing."
Hertzburg added the accident didn't scare him and he's ready to get back out there next Friday night.
"The real story was Bentonville beating Fayetteville 41 to 10," Hertzburg said. "So go tigers!"
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