TWM Stories  ·  Central Coast  ·  Community

Friday Night
Stories

The lights come on. The season begins. These are the stories we carry.

Friday Night Lights — Arroyo Grande football under the stadium lights

"Every season has a story worth telling.
These are some of them."

Friday Night Stories documents the athletes, moments, and seasons of California's Central Coast. These seasons go by faster than anyone expects. This is an attempt to hold onto some of that.

From the Archive

2024–25 Season
Arroyo Grande Eagles CIF Division 2 Ring Day
Championship Coverage  ·  CIF Division 2  ·  May 2026

Ring Day

The Arroyo Grande Eagles gathered to celebrate their CIF Division 2 Championship season and receive their rings. Just teammates, coaches, families — and one more chance to be together.

Read the story
CIF Playoff football — Arroyo Grande vs Bakersfield High
Game Coverage  ·  CIF Playoffs  ·  November 2024

The Kick

Arroyo Grande vs. Bakersfield High. CIF playoffs. Extra time. I drove two hours to stand in that end zone — and I will never forget what I saw.

Read the story
From the Booth  ·  CIF Playoffs 2024

99 yards.

One handoff, great blocking up front, one crease, and suddenly Zack Tayman was gone.

A run that started deep in his own territory turned into one of those Arroyo Grande Friday night moments people will talk about for years, made even better by Terry Veal, the voice of Friday nights at AG, on the call.

This is why small town football matters. The lights, the crowd, the voices, the moments that become part of a community's story.

Friday Night Stories.

Zack Tayman & Terry Veal on the call

The chain gang crew — Arroyo Grande football
The People Who Make Friday Night Lights Work
Arroyo Grande kicker — CIF playoffs 2024

A Note on the Senior Memory Experience

Some families find us here first. Then, when senior year arrives, they want something more personal — a portrait session, a cinematic film, a memory archive built around that specific year. That's the Senior Memory Experience. It follows naturally from this.

Learn about the Senior Memory Experience

From the Blog

View all →
Game Coverage  ·  Baseball  ·  2025 Senior Night Fight Back Down 10–3 heading into the fifth, the Eagles never did the math. Eleven runs in the sixth. Final: Arroyo Grande 14, Mission College Prep 10. Game Coverage  ·  Volleyball  ·  2024 Senior Night — Volleyball Some nights you show up with a camera and leave with something more than photos. A reflection on photographing senior nights for families I've known a long time. On Storytelling Shakes and All In a world full of AI-generated everything — on choosing the shake, the glance, the unscripted second. That's the story worth keeping.

What Families Say

"The way Simon captured Zack Tayman and the AGHS football team is truly incredible. His attention to detail, professionalism, and eye for the emotion of every moment sets his work apart. Whether through powerful video or unforgettable still shots, he has a unique ability to capture the intensity, brotherhood, and passion of Friday night lights in a way that creates lifelong memories for players and families alike. Every image and film feels authentic, cinematic, and full of heart. We are truly blessed to have had him capture so many wonderful memories on film. I am constantly looking back at the photos and videos Simon has taken, and I am so thankful he captured those memories for me. Expect nothing but perfection from Simon and Tawhaowhao Media."

Lauri Tayman

★★★★★

"Simon puts everything into his art. He's very compassionate and just knows where to be to get the best shots! I will forever cherish the pictures he has taken of my son over the years with football and baseball. Capturing the moments and making them into memories are priceless."

Michelle Benson

★★★★★

Community Coverage  ·  2025–26 Season

Want your team's season in the archive?

I cover Central Coast athletics — the games, the moments, the players who deserve to be seen. If you'd like to talk about coverage for your team or athlete, reach out.

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