It was never Lillian Spurgin’s intention to kick in a football game until 2022.
After moving to Polk County from Minnesota that year, she and her father were watching college football: Florida State went on to wallop Duquesne 47-7 in the season opener. To hear Spurgin tell it, after a missed extra point by one of the kickers, she jokingly said to her father that she could make that kick.
Spurgin’s father proceeded to make a bet that she, in fact, could not.
The next day, the two went to the George Jenkins High School to find out.
Spurgin had been a soccer player since the age of 3, and she also knew then-Eagles kicker Cameron Turner was hurt and that there could be an opportunity to actually kick in live games. While practicing, Spurgin and her father spotted football coach Paul Freeman, and her father said his daughter was available to kick if need be.
She went to a team practice that Monday.
“Honestly, I did not know much about the sport of football, so it was a totally new learning experience,” Spurgin said. “Luckily, I had a good group of people around me to teach me about the sport.”
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One of the few girls in the program’s history, she’s not just sat on the sidelines.
She has made extra points in some big games, including against Kathleen in 2022, when Spurgin executed two extra points that led to a George Jenkins 22-19 win.
Fast forward two years and Spurgin — a current college soccer prospect — is a rising senior showing off her rigorous work ethic. After competing in the girls soccer season this spring, she pivoted back to football. She didn’t get to kick in the George Jenkins-Lakewood Ranch scrimmage earlier this month because the offense didn’t produce any points.
“She has a heck of a leg: 42-45 yarders in practice,” Freeman said. “(She’s) incredible consistent and a heck of a competitor. She’s been a valuable addition to the team. She will go from a full football practice (2.5 hours) to back to back travel soccer practices (4 hours) and does this two, three times a week.”
Still, she has faced some adversities. In 2023, she suffered severe tendinitis in her groin and hip from overuse, which led to her missing seven games. She’s dealt with folks chastising her on social media because of being a female kicker, but her strong support system is helping her weave through this storm.
“It has definitely been a unique learning experience being a girl in a sport with nearly all boys, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world,” Spurgin said. “I have learned a lot through playing football and do not regret any of it. My message to any girl who wants to follow my path is do it. There will definitely be obstacles and adversity along the way but if you’re strong and hold your own, you can do it.”