‘Bigger Than Football’

Story by Angela Peach

For the past seven years, Spring Valley Academy (SVA) parent and volunteer Brad Morrison has taken the flag football team to Rio Lindo Academy (Calif.) for its annual tournament. While most high school teams play full seasons prior to the tournament, this trip is the whole flag football season for SVA.

This year, the team was preparing to compete in the tournament in mid-October when something unimaginable happened. Micah Harris, an SVA Class of 2024 graduate and the older brother of SVA senior and flag football player Jaden Harris, tragically drowned the weekend before the team was scheduled to leave.

The team suddenly faced a tough choice. If they went to the tournament, their friend and teammate Jaden could not join them. They would also miss Micah’s funeral and lose the chance to support their friend and grieve with their school community.

Teammate Ian Harvey said, “We met as a team to decide what to do. But it really wasn’t a debate. We knew we’d much rather stay home and support Jaden than to go to California without him. We all agreed. Everyone understood this was bigger than football.”

Morrison says, “In the end, it was an easy choice. I’m really proud of these guys and how much they care about their friend. Supporting Jaden was what mattered most to them. They didn’t want to leave him behind.”

Trevor Ross, the high school vice principal and Jaden’s uncle, says, “Jaden’s friends supported him from the moment they learned about Micah. They visited his house every day, spent time with him and made sure he never felt alone.”

Even though they couldn’t compete in the tournament this season, Morrison wanted the team to share a special experience together, so he reached out to the Cincinnati Bengals. When the Bengals heard of what had happened, they invited the SVA team to tour the stadium and play on the field at Paycor Stadium.

“Just seeing the looks on their faces as they walked out of the player’s tunnel onto the field was a special moment,” says Morrison. “The Bengals organization was so good to us. They gave us lunch, took us on a tour and gave the guys Bengals merchandise.”

Spending an afternoon at an NFL stadium doesn’t erase the sadness these guys went through. And it didn’t take away the pain of their loss. Still, for a little while that day, they got to play football, enjoy each other’s company and do something rare—play on an NFL field with their friends.

Ross says, “These guys have been bonded by what they’ve been through. Loss has a way of clarifying priorities.”

The SVA flag football team learned that their priority is supporting each other and not leaving anyone behind, says Morrison. Football tournaments are wonderful experiences, but deep and supportive friendships last a lifetime.