Lillian Spurgin isn't planning on kicking a football game until 2022.
After moving to Polk County from Minnesota that year, she and her father were at a college football game when Florida State thumped Duquesne, 47-7, in the season opener, and, Spurgin said, after one of the kickers missed an extra point, she jokingly told her dad, “I could make that kick.”
Spurgin's father went on to bet that she wouldn't actually be able to do so.
The next day, the two headed to George Jenkins High School to find out the truth.
Spurgin had been a football player since she was 3 years old, and when the Eagles' kicker at the time, Cameron Turner, was injured, she knew she might have a chance to kick in a real game. During practice, she and her father spotted football coach Paul Freeman, who told her that she could kick if she wanted.
She attended team practice that Monday.
“To be honest, I didn't know much about the sport of football, so it was a whole new learning experience,” Spurgin said. “Luckily, I had good people around me that were able to teach me about football.”
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As one of the few girls players in the program's history, she's not just sitting on the sidelines.
She has had the extra point in some big games, including a 2022 win over Katherine where Spurgin made two extra points to lead George Jenkins to a 22-19 win.
Fast forward two years and Spurgin, now a college soccer prospect, is a senior who is showcasing her rigorous work ethic. After playing in the girls soccer season this spring, she switched to football. In a scrimmage against George Jenkins Lakewood Ranch earlier this month, she wasn't allowed to kick as the offense couldn't score.
“She has incredible leg strength, running 42-45 yards in practice,” Freeman said. “She's incredibly consistent and competitive. She's an asset to our team. She does a full football practice (2.5 hours) followed by back-to-back road football practices (4 hours) two to three times a week.”
Still, she faced some adversity. In 2023, she missed seven games with severe overuse tendinitis in her groin and hip. She received flak on social media for being a female kicker, but her strong support system helped her weather the storm.
“Playing as a girl in a predominantly male sport is definitely a unique learning experience, but I wouldn't trade it for anyone in the world,” Spurgin said. “I learned so much through football and have no regrets about it. My message to all girls who want to follow in my path is to do it. There will definitely be obstacles and adversity along the way, but if you're strong and you stand up for yourself, you can do it.”
