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Morgan Walsh is living her flag football dream at George Jenkins

Morgan Walsh completed a 24-yard pass on a fly route during the Class 2A District 11 flag football quarterfinal game Monday night.

The play would result in George Jenkins' first touchdown of the game and an 18-0 victory over Winter Haven. Walsh, the Eagles' leading receiver, had five catches for 83 yards and a touchdown.

It's the latest successful game for the juniors, a natural continuation of developments after George Jenkins implemented his program a year ago and the Eagles finished with a 6-3 record.

For Walsh and the program, it was about continuing the momentum into 2024.

“Whenever we started this season, I felt like the team in general and I felt like we had a better chance this year and that was obviously proven by our record,” Walsh said.

George Jenkins is 11-4 so far and Walsh has caught 64 balls for 1,005 yards and 16 touchdowns. Senior quarterback Jennyliz Paris managed 2,127 passing yards and 21 touchdowns despite a knee injury, while senior running back Maya Williams has 28 carries for 262 yards and senior Alivia Conticello has a team-high 111 tackles.

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The camaraderie of this team has been something Walsh has dreamed of since she was a child, watching her brothers play flag football at St. Paul Lutheran Church & School.

“When I saw them play (and) they made a crazy play or a long throw and a touchdown, it made me want to be out there and play, but obviously I never had that chance in St. Paul,” Walsh said.

Walsh is part of a family of people who love football. Not only did her brother play flag football, her father also played football at schools in his hometown of Chicago.

As a family, they watched the Florida Gators, and as she grew up in high school, her love of the game increased as she competed in track, football and basketball. Walsh was also a basketball player at George Jenkins her freshman and sophomore years, and last year she was a member of the Jenkins soccer team.

Although she enjoyed playing these sports, Walsh's opportunity finally came true when George Jenkins offered her flag football as a sophomore and, of course, she attended the first interest meeting. Her emails to the athletic director asking when flag football would begin were answered.

Now Walsh has worked hard enough to become one of the county's best players; She works diligently with her father on kegel and kegel exercises and also participates in route running.

It's early. But Walsh has thought about playing flag football at the next level. For now, she will continue her collaboration with her colleagues at George Jenkins.

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