FLAG PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Central’s Natalyn Lumpkin looks to help grow the game at the next level

Natalyn Lumpkins mom recently pulled up an old video of Lumpkin as a little girl throwing around a football.

That little girl had no idea then that organized football in any form would ever be an option for her let alone that she could ever go to college to play it.

But thats exactly whats happened for Lumpkin, the Central-Phenix City receiver who, after winning two state championships and a claim to a national title, is now fielding offers to play flag football at the college level.

Its kind of a full-circle moment, just playing in the backyard with my brothers and sisters and cousins, and then having the opportunity to play that I never wouldve even thought of, Lumpkin said.

I feel like even people that arent going to college, its just brought them a lot of joy, because its so different, its so fun.

Theres no pressure.

You can just go out there and play.

It just feels so free.

Of course, back then, flag football had yet to take off in the state of Alabama, with the AHSAA just now wrapping up its fourth season sponsoring the sport.

Lumpkin has been one of the best players to pull a flag in the state so far.

She led the state in scoring this season with 255 total points scored, pulling in 33 touchdown receptions on 69 catches for 1,296 yards.

Defensively, she brought down seven interceptions, returning three of those for touchdowns.

Those efforts led her to be named Player of the Year as part of the O-A News All-Area Team for flag football.

And her efforts helped push Central to incredible heights this season.

Central won the state title in 2023, and coming back for 2024, the Red Devils acheived even more.

They won state again and, along the way, were featured on ESPN broadcasts and ultimately finished the years USA Today Sports Super 25 national flag football rankings No.

1 in the country, making the Red Devils national champions.

Lumpkin was a threat at all times at the receiver spot a longtime softball player unlocking more of her athleticism in the open field and when other teams put extra attention on her, that only opened things up for her teammates.

Defensively, her zone was locked down and her hands rarely missed a flag in reach.

My team and coaches, I could not do anything Ive done without them, at all, Lumpkin said.

From Gerritt (Griggs) throwing me the ball to scout team giving looks, I could not do any of it.

The team could not do it without the coaches, the effort they put in watching film and stuff.

Its amazing how focused we can all be toward one goal, not worried about ourselves, not worried about anybody else but bettering the team.

Central head coach Mitchell Holt said Lumpkin is a stellar teammate who was often even more excited to see her teammates make big plays.

When she does make the play, though, Holt says hes noticed she usually claps the ball and smiles wide with big dimples.

She smiled plenty during an unforgettable run for the Red Devils.

Theres nothing she cant do out there, Holt said.

Shes surrounded by other competitors on that team, and thats what made us a special team, but shes as big a competitor as any of them, and she does it in a respectable way.

Shes special, for sure, he added.

And she wants to keep that going.

She knows she wants to play flag football in college though she hasnt decided where yet.

Holt says she has an offer from Ottawa University in Kansas, winners of four straight NAIA flag football national championships, plus an offer from national semifinalist Thomas University in Georgia, among others.

Anybody thats seen her wants her, Holt said.

And what makes her special is shes elite on both sides of the ball.

Regardless of where she ends up, she wants to continue playing and continue to help get the sport of flag football off the ground for women and girls across the country.

It means a lot to me, and I think it means a lot to other people, too, just to watch it grow, Lumpkin said.

And even to be able to be a part of that, being able to be a part of the first four or five groups of seniors that are even going to be able to play in college, and knowing that younger girls will have the opportunity to do something bigger than we can do, just because of us growing it its awesome.

Im glad.

And I cant wait to see where it goes for the younger girls.

Central captains Gerritt Griggs (2), Natalyn Lumpkin (4), and Allyson Supan (5) walk to midfield for the coin toss before the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship between Central and Spain Park at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

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Central's Allyson Supan (5) dives at Spain Park's Chenelle Hunter (14) in the first half of the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

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Spain Park's Jenna Kate Hutchison (12) throws in the first half of the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship between Central and Spain Park at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

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Central's Colby Cook (11) celebrates after a touchdown catch in the first half of the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship between Central and Spain Park at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

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Central's Gerritt Griggs (2) carries for an extra-point conversion in the first half of the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship between Central and Spain Park at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

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Central's Gerritt Griggs (2) grabs the flag of Spain Park's Rory Payton (15) for a tackle in the first half of the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

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Central's Colby Cook (11) carries after a catch in the first half of the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship between Central and Spain Park at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

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Centrals Allyson Supan (5) catches a pass for a touchdown in the first half of the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship between Central and Spain Park at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

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Central's Colby Cook (11) pulls the flags from Spain Park's Rory Payton (15) for a tackle in the first half of the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

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Spain Park's Chenelle Hunter (14) catches a pass in the first half of the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship between Central and Spain Park at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

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Spain Park's Amber Mangina (3) carries after a catch for a touchdown in the first half of the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship between Central and Spain Park at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

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Spain Park's Amber Mangina (3) celebrates with JaSkylar Simpkins (2) after a touchdown in the first half of the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship between Central and Spain Park at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

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Central's Gerritt Griggs (2) throws in the first half of the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship between Central and Spain Park at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

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Spain Park's Amber Mangina (3) pulls the flag from Central's Summer Gilley (1) after an interception in the first half of the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

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Central's Mariah Harrison (14) carries in the first half of the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship between Central and Spain Park at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

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Central's Savannah Sevier (12) catches a pass in the first half of the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship between Central and Spain Park at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

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Centrals Mariah Harrison (14) carries for a touchdown in the first half of the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship between Central and Spain Park at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

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Central's Mariah Harrison (14) throws for a touchdown in the second half of the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship between Central and Spain Park at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

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Central's Natalyn Lumpkin (4) catches a pass for a touchdown in the second half of the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship between Central and Spain Park at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

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Central's Natalyn Lumpkin (4) celebrates with Mariah Harrison (14) after a touchdown in the second half of the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship between Central and Spain Park at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

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Central's Natalyn Lumpkin (4) defends a pass intended for Spain Park's Amber Mangina (3) in the second half of the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

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Central's Natalyn Lumpkin (4) catches a pass for a touchdown in the second half of the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship between Central and Spain Park at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

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Central head coach Mitchell Holt reacts to a call in the second half of the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship between Central and Spain Park at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

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Spain Park's Amber Mangina (3) catches a pass in the second half of the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship between Central and Spain Park at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

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Centrals Gerritt Griggs (2) throws in the second half of the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship between Central and Spain Park at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

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Central's Khloe Broadwater (27) carries in the second half of the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship between Central and Spain Park at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

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Central's Allyson Supan (5) holds Horns Up after a touchdown in the second half of the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship between Central and Spain Park at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

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Central's Allyson Supan (5) grabs the flags of Spain Park's Rory Payton (15) for a tackle in the second half of the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

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Spain Park's Chenelle Hunter (14) catches a pass in the second half of the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship between Central and Spain Park at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

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Central's Danajia Thomas (10) pulls the flags from Spain Park's Jenna Kate Hutchison (12) for a sack in the second half of the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

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Central's Colby Cook (11) intercepts a pass in the second half of the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship between Central and Spain Park at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

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Central's Colby Cook (11) returns an interception in the second half of the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship between Central and Spain Park at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

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The Central-Phenix City Red Devils celebrate after their 55-7 win over Spain Park in the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

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ABOVE: Centrals Allyson Supan (5) celebrates with the Blue Map championship trophy on the field after the Red Devils 55-7 win over Spain Park.

LEFT: The Central-Phenix City Red Devils celebrate after their 55-7 win over Spain Park.

The Central-Phenix City Red Devils celebrate after their 55-7 win over Spain Park in the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday.

The Central-Phenix City Red Devils celebrate after their 55-7 win over Spain Park in the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

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ABOVE: Central head coach Mitchell Holt presents the Blue Map championship trophy to his team after the Red Devils 55-7 win over Spain Park in the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

4, 2024.

The Central-Phenix City Red Devils celebrate with the Blue Map championship trophy after their 55-7 win over Spain Park in the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

4, 2024.

The Central-Phenix City Red Devils gather for a team photo after defeating Spain Park 55-7 in the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

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The Central-Phenix City Red Devils celebrate with the Blue Map championship trophy after their 55-7 win over Spain Park in the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday.

Centrals Allyson Supan (5) raises the Blue Map championship trophy after the Red Devils 55-7 win over Spain Park in the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

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LEFT: Centrals Mariah Harrison (14) carries for a touchdown in the first half of the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship between Central and Spain Park.

RIGHT: Centrals Colby Cook (11) and Gerritt Griggs (2) shower head coach Mitchell Holt with a celebratory ice bath.

Centrals Allyson Supan (5) celebrates with the Blue Map championship trophy on the field after the Red Devils 55-7 win over Spain Park in the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

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Central's Kalea Lovejoy (25) and Janiyah Garrett (3) show off their CHAMPS caps after the Red Devils 55-7 win over Spain Park in the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

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Central's Danajia Thomas (10) and Kamouri Johnson (8) celebrate with a quick dance after the Red Devils 55-7 win over Spain Park in the AHSAA 6A-7A Flag Football Championship at Protective Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, Dec.

4, 2024.

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