In a Sept. 4 letter to Gov. Wes Moore, Muñoz said she will resign Jan. 1, 2025, to “spend more time with my young family.”

“I pray that you and the legislature pass laws to keep Marylanders safe and prosperous in the coming years,” she wrote in the letter.

Muñoz, 37, has been a delegate since November 2021. Former Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, appointed her to fill the remaining term of former Del. Michael E. Malone, who resigned his District 33 seat in August 2021 to become an Anne Arundel County Circuit Court judge.

In 2022, Muñoz ran for election to one of three District 31 seats in the House of Delegates and won.

In a text message to Fox45 News, Muñoz, a cancer survivor who is now pregnant, said her decision to resign stemmed in part from health concerns: “We’re expected a health[y] baby boy in November, and I have confidence that my replacement in the legislature will do their best to represent District 31,” she said.

Muñoz was raised in Severna Park and graduated from Severna Park High School. She received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Maryland in 2009 and a law degree from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. She has five children, according to her state biography.

Since 2021, Muñoz has been on the House Judiciary Committee. In 2023, she began sitting on the Joint Committee on the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area.

State law requires the Anne Arundel County Republican Central Committee to nominate someone to fill the vacancy and submit their name to the governor for appointment to serve out the remainder of Muñoz’s term, which ends in January 2027.

A representative on the committee did not respond to a request for comment.

Jerome Isaac Hurley, 44, was charged in April with one count of theft of more than $100,000, a felony in Maryland law punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Hurley appeared Friday in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court in Annapolis. His next hearing is scheduled for Dec. 4 with trial set to begin Dec. 10, according to the Maryland Judiciary.

Mark Lechowicz, Hurley’s defense attorney, declined to comment Monday.

On Sept. 5, 2023, Anne Arundel County Police went to the Miracle Temple along Southern Maryland Boulevard after being alerted to a theft, according to charging documents.

Police said church officials had recently discovered $347,000 of a $350,000 insurance check had been transferred from their Bank of America checking account into Hurley’s personal account.

According to charging documents, Hurley filed a successful insurance claim in March 2020 after a residence on the church’s property caught fire. Church officials told investigators that throughout Hurley’s seven years at Miracle Temple, from 2015 to 2022, he handled bank statements and finances.

A year after the fire, when the claim was vetted and a check was issued, Hurley took the vast majority of the insurance money from the temple’s account, police said. Charging documents reference bank account numbers and the dates of several bank transfers, including when the insurance money cleared the church’s account and when it was allegedly transferred to Hurley nine days later.

The church’s attempts to contact Hurley about the money were unsuccessful, police said. In February 2023, the Miracle Temple’s board sent Hurley a certified letter saying they had entrusted him “to act in good faith” when handling the church’s finances and that they had never been notified of the insurance claim or the $350,000 check, according to charging documents.

Police did not indicate what Hurley may have spent the money on once it was in his account.

A representative for Miracle Temple declined to comment Monday on Hurley’s case or time with the church.

A spokesperson with the Anne Arundel County Fire Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the 2020 fire at Miracle Temple.

Since last year, Hurley’s case is at least the second criminal accusation levied against a church official in Anne Arundel County involving church money.

In March 2023, Marie Simeone was charged with embezzlement and two felony theft counts after she was accused of taking nearly $65,000 from the Our Lady of Sorrows Roman Catholic Church in West River.

Simeone, who was the church’s director of operations until about three months before she was charged, allegedly made personal purchases at several businesses, subscribed to magazines and streaming services, went to restaurants and paid her utility bills using church funds, prosecutors said.

In November 2023, Simeone pleaded guilty to a felony theft scheme charge and was granted probation before judgment.

Connerton has worked for Anne Arundel County Public Schools for 15 years and now is the school system’s wellness coordinator.

Connerton, who went to the White House after being named teacher of the year, is one of 48 recipients nationwide. Given by the National Education Association Foundation, the award recognizes exceptional K-12 public school educators for excellence in the classroom, dedication to family and community engagement, a commitment to equity and diversity and advocacy for the teaching profession.

“I am honored and humbled to be one of the 48 educators in the nation to receive the 2025 Travelers Award for Teaching Excellence through the NEA Foundation,” Connerton said in a news release Monday. “I am in awe that this work that I hold so dear to my heart is getting such notice because what drives me every day is simply doing everything I can to create a better world for our youth.”

Previously, Connerton was the wellness coordinator at Annapolis High School, where she created and led the school’s Trauma-Informed Leadership Team. She led monthly counseling groups, such as yoga sessions for specific student needs, and put together professional development for teachers with a focus on the health and wellness of students.

Quarterback Blake Horvath led another impressive offensive performance while inside linebacker Colin Ramos spearheaded a dominant display by the defense. Even punter Riley Riethman sparked a solid outing by the special teams.

Horvath accounted for 234 yards of offense, making plays with both his arm and feet. The talented junior had career highs for rushing (122) and passing (112) yards.

Through two games, Horvath has shown a strong grasp of the new Wing-T offense and the ability to make all the plays asked of the quarterback. He’s always been a smooth runner with great instincts and looks comfortable taking off on option keepers.

Horvath, a triple-option quarterback at Hilliard Darby High in Ohio, showed he has the speed to go the distance during a 65-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. He’s equally effective running inside or outside and has the quickness to make defenders miss.

Navy coaches challenged Horvath to improve as a passer during the offseason to effectively run first-year offensive coordinator Drew Cronic’s “millennial” Wing-T attack. So far, so good, as Horvath has completed 12 of 21 passes (57%) for 220 yards and three touchdowns.

It helps to have a big-time playmaker to target, and snipe Eli Heidenreich has quickly emerged as the primary guy in the passing game. He was a slot receiver at Mount Lebanon High in Pittsburgh and it shows with his route-running and pass-catching skills. Heidenreich has the speed and acceleration to get separation and extremely sure hands.

Heidenreich already has eight catches for 172 yards and three scores because Cronic has designed pass plays to get him in space. Another example came Saturday when Horvath connected with Heidenreich for a 31-yard touchdown strike.

It came off a play that looked like a triple-option with Horvath faking to the fullback then carrying the ball down the line of scrimmage with a trailing back. Temple’s linebackers and safeties rushed up in run support just as Horvath pulled up and set to throw. Heidenreich, who was wide-open downfield, caught the ball in stride and waltzed into the end zone.

Millennial, indeed.

“I think the biggest thing is the wrinkles you can add off the plays you run already. We want to make as many plays look as similar as possible,” Horvath said of the play. “We run option off that look and [Brandon Chatman] had a long run. We ran it to the left and I had a solid gain. They were really flying downhill. You reel them in a little bit and lull them to sleep.”

Cronic also used a simple play to get the ball into Heidenreich’s hands, having him run a short route into the right flat for an easy pitch and catch. It is the type of high-percentage short passing concept that is almost guaranteed to pick up a few yards and has the potential for a big gain because of Heidenreich’s speed, quickness and elusiveness.

Cronic still has plenty left to show from the Wing-T playbook. It’s going to be fun and exciting as the veteran play-caller unveils more of the diverse package.

Navy has piled up 87 points and 846 total yards through two games, which means the offensive line is getting the job done. Following Saturday’s game, Horvath made sure to give credit to the unit composed of left tackle Connor McMahon, left guard Ben Purvis, center Brent Self, right guard Cam Nichols and right tackle Javan Bouton.

Temple had a highly touted defensive line, but Navy dominated the line of scrimmage on the way to amassing 297 rushing yards. The Midshipmen currently rank 10th nationally in rushing offense with 280.5 yards per game on the ground. That’s more like it after some underwhelming offensive performances in recent seasons.

“[The Owls] give the toughest players single-digit numbers, so when you see a bunch of those guys on the defensive line you know they are going to try to make some plays,” Horvath said. “A big point of emphasis was winning the game up front, and I thought we did that.”

Temple quarterback E.J. Warner torched Navy last year to the tune of 402 yards and four touchdown passes in a stunning upset. Ramos, the defensive captain, said the Midshipmen were determined to make amends, and they did so convincingly. Ramos recorded 15 tackles as Navy shut down the running game and made Temple one-dimensional with quarterback Forrest Brock completing 30 of 46 passes for 277 yards. He missed a lot of throws, however, and routinely settled for short passes. The Mids had two interceptions and five pass breakups.

Cornerback Ira Oniha set the tone on the first play of the game, drilling a wideout for a 3-yard loss.

“We knew we basically had to punch them in the face,” Ramos said, “and Ira did that on the first play.”

That was a theme throughout the game as Navy was aggressive in coverage and refused to allow Temple receivers to turn short passes into big gains. The Mids tackled well in open space and had multiple defenders rally to the ball.

Give credit to defensive coordinator P.J. Volker, too, for creating a game plan that prevented the nickel-and-dime approach Temple implemented so successfully last season.

“I think they tried to make the screens an extension of their run game and we handled the perimeter pretty well. I thought we fit things up outside,” Navy coach Brian Newberry said.

When Newberry was hired as Navy defensive coordinator in 2019 he brought a “get six” mantra he believes is key to success. The Mids’ defense has met that challenge in a big way so far this season, totaling nine points against both Bucknell and Temple.

On Saturday, the defense recorded a trio of three-and-outs, a pair of turnovers on downs, two interceptions, a fumble recovery and a safety.

Newberry was upset about how the special teams performed in the season opener as there was a kickoff out of bounds, a missed extra point, and too many yards allowed on returns.

Navy was much better with the specialty units against Temple with Riethman repeatedly pinning the visitors deep with three punts that were downed inside the 20-yard line. He boomed a 51-yard punt early in the first quarter that was downed at the 2-yard line. He followed with a high punt that was fair caught at the 9-yard line and led to the safety.

Temple’s average starting field position for the game was its 22-yard line, which was an important factor in the game.

“We played really well on special teams. Field position was really critical, especially in the first half, and we dominated that area,” Newberry said. “I just thought the overall effort and execution were much better. The attention to detail was much better.”

“It makes you nervous with all these little ones holding on to the wagon, especially with all the cars going by,” Patrick said. “We take a couple steps, then we have to pull over into somebody’s yard or driveway to get out of the way.”

Patrick didn’t anticipate this trek becoming part of her daily routine, having watched the school bus drop kids off within eyesight of her house for years. She started a day care business in her house on Norwich Road four years ago, thinking it would be a good way to stay home with her son while still making an income.

Her son started kindergarten this year at Pasadena Elementary School, and to her surprise, the bus stop near her house wasn’t on the bus schedule for this academic year. She’s not comfortable letting her son walk alone, especially since there’s no sidewalk, and since she runs her business by herself, she can’t leave the day care kids to go pick him up.

The Transportation Division follows National Highway Transportation Administration (NHTSA) guidelines when establishing bus stops, according to Anne Arundel County Public Schools spokesperson Bob Mosier. Stops along a route are consolidated to help bus drivers reach school on time. Throughout the 2023-2024 school year, buses in this cluster routinely arrived late, causing students to miss instruction, Mosier said.

“The Transportation Division continually reviews and evaluates bus stops throughout the county in order to maximize the efficiency of the overall system,” said Mosier. “In this case, students who live in the transportation area are provided with bus stops that are accessible, safe, and will get them to school on time.”

Bringing all seven kids to the bus stop isn’t a sustainable solution, and Patrick worries about the weather, especially when winter brings darker mornings. She anticipates having to turn away clients with infants.

“I don’t even want to think about pushing the wagon through the snow,” Patrick said. “Who’s gonna want their infant to go out in that kind of weather twice a day?”

Pamela Blades, who lives behind Patrick on Inverness Road, started her own at-home day care, Miss Pam’s Child Care, 25 years ago. The same bus stop Patrick planned to use was once directly in front of her home and would drop her clients at her front stoop. This year, the nearest bus stop is a quarter-mile walk from her home, along a road with no sidewalk.

Blades isn’t willing to haul her entire day care operation to the bus stop. So far, two families have removed their children because they’re uncomfortable with the walk, costing her hundreds of dollars every week. She’s struggling to cope with the financial loss and is sad to lose kids she’s cared for since they were infants.

“My clients refuse to put me in a position where I have to get other children up from nap time and drag them around the block to the corner, so they found other accommodations,” Blades said. “I was crying yesterday because I miss the kids.”

One of those kids is Alyssa Sizemore’s five-year-old daughter. Sizemore preferred Blades’ day care because of the intimate and loving environment she observed there, but she pulled her daughter out because she felt the walk was too dangerous.

“Somebody could observe my daughter walking that path over time and recognize she’s alone. As a mother, you don’t even want to think about what those risks could be,” Sizemore said.

Sizemore and her husband asked for accommodations at work so they could pick their daughter up from the bus stop, but that arrangement is temporary until they can find alternative childcare.

Anne Arundel County Public Schools won’t determine the new bus routes for the next academic year until next summer, leaving Blades and Patrick unsure if their businesses will return to normal.

Highs are expected to remain in the mid-80s throughout the week amid mostly sunny daytime weather.

[Get the latest weathercast from FOX45 News]

Tuesday will be clear with temperatures kicking up to around 86. Tuesday night will remain mostly clear with a low around 63.

Wednesday and Thursday should be identical to Tuesday with sunny conditions and a high around 85. Wednesday night will be mostly clear with a low around 64, and Thursday night will be the week’s first glimpse at mostly cloudy conditions.

Wine on the Water 2024 | PHOTOS

Some clouds will stick around into Friday, as conditions will be partly sunny with a high near 84. Friday night, conditions will shift to mostly cloudy with a low around 64.

However, the defense deserves as much or more credit for the Midshipmen posting another convincing victory Saturday before an announced crowd of 28,889 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

Inside linebacker Colin Ramos spearheaded a dominant defensive effort as Navy routed visiting Temple, 38-11, in the American Athletic Conference opener for both programs. Ramos, the senior defensive captain, recorded 15 tackles and the defense made a ton of big plays in totally shutting down the Owls.

Cornerback Ira Oniha had six tackles, a clutch pass breakup that prevented a touchdown and a forced fumble for Navy (2-0), which held Temple three points until there were 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter. Outside linebackers Jaxson Campbell and Kenneth McShan notched interceptions for the Mids, who limited the Owls to 193 total yards through three quarters.

“I thought defensively we really flew around and competed. We gave up some stuff underneath, but we didn’t give up any explosive plays. The plan was to make them earn it and I thought we did that today,” said Navy coach Brian Newberry, noting that Temple’s run game was “nonexistent.”

Navy avenged last season’s embarrassing 32-18 loss to Temple in Philadelphia. Members of the Midshipmen’s defense in particular said they had this contest circled after getting picked apart by quarterback E.J. Warner.

“It was pretty personal because of last year, so this was a big one,” Ramos said. “The main focus was on ourselves and coming out the right way as a defense, and I think we did that.”

Newberry said defensive coordinator P.J. Volker beat himself up about the game plan against Temple a year ago.

“I thought [Volker] called a brilliant game today. He put our guys in the right positions and we executed well for the most part,” Newberry said.

Quarterback Blake Horvath was the sparkplug of a Navy offense that amassed 409 total yards. Horvath rushed for 122 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries before leaving the game late in the third quarter. He also completed 5 of 9 passes for 112 yards and a score.

Horvath became the first Navy quarterback to surpass 100 rushing and passing yards since Tai Lavatai accomplished the feat against SMU in 2022.

“I thought Blake did a nice job and played really well. He threw some nice balls,” Newberry said. “One thing about Blake — as he gets more and more confident, he’s going to get better and better.”

Snipe Eli Heidenreich had another big game with four receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown. Fullback Alex Tecza made his presence known with 92 rushing yards on just nine carries.

Horvath took an option keeper 62 yards for a touchdown on a first down play early in the second quarter. On Navy’s next possession, Tecza broke a fullback dive 65 yards for a score on first down. Heidenreich later added a 51-yard reception that got Navy off its own goal line.

“We have a bunch of skill players that when they get the ball they can go to the house with it,” Newberry said.

It’s been an explosive start to the season for the Wing-T offense brought to Annapolis by first-year coordinator Drew Cronic as Navy is averaging 43.5 points and 423 total yards through two games.

“I knew Drew was going to do a great job. He’s a proven winner whose had success everywhere he’s been, scored a lot of points everywhere he’s been,” Newberry said. “Just a really good football coach and a really good person. He’s got these guys believing in what we’re doing.”

Temple’s Forrest Brock completed 30 of 46 passes for 277 yards and a touchdown to lead Temple (0-2), which has been outscored 90-13 in two games this season. The Owls were completely one-dimensional, managing only 35 rushing yards against the stout front seven of the Midshipmen.

Navy’s defense put the first points on the board. With the Owls backed up inside their 10, Brock could not handle the shotgun snap and the ball rolled into the end zone. Brock was able to recover, but was drilled by Justin Reed and knocked out of bounds for a safety.

Isaiah Bryant returned the subsequent free kick 21 yards to give Navy great field position. Horvath then directed an efficient 11-play, 58-yard touchdown drive the quarterback capped himself with a 2-yard plunge into the end zone.

Things got worse for Temple on its third possession as Navy outside linebacker Jaxson Campbell made a great read and jumped in front of an attempted slant pass to record his first career interception. Navy needed only one play to capitalize on the turnover with Horvath taking an option keeper around the left side, picking up a great block by tight end Jake Norris and racing down the sideline 62 yards to paydirt. Kicker Nathan Kirkwood made his second extra point to increase the lead to 16-0 .

After a Temple three-and-out, Navy produced its second straight one-play touchdown drive. Tecza did an impressive job of maintaining balance and staying on his feet while shaking off a tackle attempt on a dive play. Tecza broke loose and found no defenders between himself and the goal line, racing 65 yards to the end zone to make it 23-0.

Temple mounted a late drive that produced a 36-yard field goal by Maddux Trujillo and went into halftime trailing 23-3.

Navy got the ball to start the second half and promptly mounted an impressive nine-play, 81-yard touchdown drive that featured a nice mixture of plays. It started with a reverse that wide receiver Nathan Kent took 17 yards for a quick first down. Horvath gained another 17 yards on consecutive keepers to bring the ball into Temple territory.

Three plays later, Cronic made a great call that produced a 31-yard scoring strike. Horvath faked to the fullback and carried the ball outside with a pitch man trailing on what looked like a triple-option play. However, Horvath abruptly pulled up, set his feet and found Heidenreich racing wide-open down the seam.

Heidenreich caught the pass in stride and waltzed into the end zone. Newberry called for the two-point conversion and Horvath completed a swing pass to Chatman to give Navy a commanding 31-3 lead.

There were more heroics from the Navy defense on the ensuing possession after Temple converted on fourth down in its own territory. Brock completed a pass to speedy wide receiver Ashton Allen and cornerback Mbiti Williams missed the tackle attempt.

Allen, an Odenton resident who initially attended USC on a track and field scholarship, raced down the sideline and seemed headed for the end zone, but cornerback Ira Oniha made a great hustle play and knocked him out of bounds at the 7-yard line after a 47-yard gain.

However, Navy held and forced a turnover on downs.

Horvath later iced the game with an 18-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter.

Memphis at Navy

Saturday, Sept. 21, 3:30 p.m.

TV: CBS Sports Network

Radio: 1430 AM

Jaxson Campbell, a first-year starter at striker, led the Midshipmen with 10 tackles, including 1½ for loss. He also had half a sack and a pass breakup.

“Jaxson played the way I hoped and expected he would,” Navy coach Brian Newberry said after the game. “That’s a critical position that needs to be productive. Typically, when that guy is productive we’re doing pretty good on defense.”

Luke Pirris, in his second season as the starting raider, recorded eight tackles with 2½ for losses. Pirris notched 1 ½ sacks and forced a fumble that he recovered himself.

“I love Luke Pirris and the way he plays football. He had a couple really nice pass rush moves in the game and was very disruptive,” Navy defensive coordinator P.J. Volker said. “Luke just keeps getting better, keeps getting bigger, stronger and faster. You can tell the game is starting to slow down for him quite a bit.”

Campbell and Pirris got most of the defensive repetitions while the Bucknell game was in doubt, but Brown feels very comfortable with replacing them at any time with backups Kenneth McShan (striker) and Dylan Spelios (raider).

Brown said Spelios gets his vote for most improved player on defense, while McShan has adapted well after being moved from inside linebacker.

“We’ve had really, really healthy competition at both positions,” Brown said. “Dylan Spelios has shown that he’s ready to be a key member of this dark side defense. Kenny McShan has come really far in such a short time and is playing at a high level as well.”

Pirris was pressed into the starting lineup five games into last season after Jordan Sanders suffered an injury and played so well he kept the job even once Sanders was healthy.

Pirris wound up leading Navy with 10 tackles for loss and tying for the team lead with 4 ½ sacks. He ranked fifth with 62 total tackles and also had three pass breakups, three forced fumbles.

“You don’t really experience what playing in a game is like until you’re thrown into one,” Pirris said. “I grew a lot last year as far as seeing the pace of the game with how fast things move and how talented the players we go against are.”

Brown praised Pirris for working hard during the offseason with strength and conditioning coordinator Jim Kiritsy to “totally transform his body.” Pirris put on 15 pounds of primarily muscle and believes the increased size and strength has allowed the junior to “take my game to another level.”

Both Brown and Volker pushed Pirris to improve as a pass rusher and the production in the opener showed that he did. “I feel like I’ve taken a big step forward in that department and I’m looking forward to showcasing that this season,” he said.

While Pirris was impressive in the opener, he was nowhere near flawless and Volker pinpointed several fundamental mistakes while reviewing the game tape.

“Luke’s got to be more consistent with some of the techniques we’re looking for,” Volker said.

Volker says this is the deepest Navy has been at the raider position during his six years with the program and that is evidenced by the fact Sanders, who has played in 29 career games with four starts, is third on the depth chart. However, Volker is not surprised Spelios has made a move because he was the best defensive player at the Naval Academy Prep School in 2021.

“Dylan Spelios has really come on and is developing into the type of player we thought he would be when we recruited him,” Volker said. “Jordan has started games and is a tremendous talent as well. He brings some pass rush ability and is sturdy in the run game.”

Campbell was given every opportunity to earn the starting striker spot in August 2023 and was unable to do so. He too often played outside the parameters of the defense and got caught out of position. Senior Xavier McDonald wound up starting all 12 games and the coaching staff switched classmate Eavan Gibbons from safety to be the backup. Campbell was forced to prove himself on special teams.

“Jaxson probably got humbled a bit last year for the first time in his football career,” Volker said. “It was probably a little surprising for him, as it was for the coaches.”

One year later, Campbell is a completely different player with a better understanding of the defense and his role within it.

“Jaxson has matured a lot and made a ton of progress. The thing he’s improved the most is his discipline and not trying to make every play,” Volker said. “The level of detail with him has gotten so much better.”

Campbell agrees with that assessment and took to heart the Navy defensive mantra of having a high fixation to details.

“I know my job and where I’m supposed to be, so the coaches are now able to trust me. I’m not just relying on my athleticism to just run into plays and kind of be lucky,” Campbell said. “I’m so excited that I’m finally getting released and have the opportunity to go out and showcase what I can do for my football team. I’m excited to cause a lot of havoc.”

Brown said Campbell attacked spring camp like a consummate professional and saw the light bulb come on in terms of executing what the coaching staff demands from the striker. Newberry said Campbell’s “motor runs hot” at all times and noted he’s learned how to properly channel that intensity.

“Jaxson loves football and is hungry to improve. I love his work ethic and the way he attacks every day with amazing energy and enthusiasm,” Volker said. “We need that position to be a game wrecker and Jaxson has shown he can do that. He’s a very versatile athlete who can win off the edge or drop into coverage.”

McShan is another talented player who has been the victim of the injury bug. He earned a spot on special teams as a plebe and suffered a season-ending knee injury in the second game against Memphis. He worked hard to rehabilitate and was back in the mix at inside linebacker during preseason camp a year ago when the right knee blew out and required another surgery.

“It speaks volumes about Kenny’s mental toughness and character to battle back and be primed to make an impact for this football team,” Volker said. “Kenny brings a level of physicality to the striker position that we haven’t had in the past. He is a very sudden, violent hitter.”

Navy Outside Linebackers

Position coach: Ricky Brown, second year

Current starters: Jaxson Campbell (Junior, 5-10, 202) at striker; Luke Pirris (Junior, 6-4, 217) at raider

Top backups: Kenneth McShan (Junior, 6-1, 207) at striker; Dylan Spelios (Junior, 6-4, 225) at raider

Starters lost: Striker Xavier McDonald (graduated)

Other lettermen lost: Striker Eavan Gibbons (graduated)

“Her star burned very bright,” said her mother, Lynn Flanigan. “She was always a presence, you know? She’d come in, and people would just light up. Everybody would smile, and she was like a magnet.”

Maggie Flanigan, the daughter of Lynn Flanigan, a health care worker, and Daniel Flanigan, a restaurant worker, was born in Baltimore and raised in Towson.

Sailing became part of her life at an early age. Her parents, who are avid sailors, first took her on a boat when she was 5 weeks old. At 14 months, she earned her sea legs on a weeklong cruise with her family to Connecticut, but needed to relearn walking after returning to shore, her mother said.

Ms. Flanigan’s love of theater and singing bloomed in middle school at Loch Raven Technical Academy’s Performing Arts Magnet program, continuing through high school when she worked as a server and performer at a dinner theater in Timonium. Her passion for sailing continued in high school, as well, through volunteering with Special Olympics Sailing, which her parents helped found and coach internationally.

She graduated from Loch Raven High School in Towson in 2008 and attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where she studied nursing, psychology and choral music. While there, she helped found a sailing club and jazz performing group.

During summer breaks, she worked as a certified sailing instructor at Baltimore County Sailing Center. She once saved the life of a fellow instructor who fell out of a boat, hitting their head and becoming unconscious in the water.

Ms. Flanigan held several jobs in retail, life insurance and health care, working at Sheppard Pratt and Greater Baltimore Medical Center while also participating in community theater organizations as a performer and costumer, creating a plus-sized costume collection. After leaving the health care system during the coronavirus pandemic, she leaned deeper into her love of sewing, working at a dressmaking shop in Pikesville.

In 2021, she moved to Annapolis to work as a canvas fabricator at Quantum Sails, working on designs for sail covers and biminis, or sun protectors. She joined the Annapolis sailing community, crewing on J/105 racing boats and others in regattas while helping friends on the side with wedding tailoring.

Ms. Flanigan often went to karaoke in downtown Annapolis at Stan and Joe’s or Middleton Tavern, said Allison Gingerich, a friend.

“Anyone that she met was always touched by her in a different way in the sense that she was just very kind, very openhearted — the kind of person you could talk to about pretty much anything,” Gingerich said.

Last year, Ms. Flanigan, Ms. Gingerich and three others competed in the J/105 Women’s Regatta in Annapolis wearing hot pink Hawaiian print shirts and white skirts, winning an award for best-dressed crew — a trophy that did not exist until they arrived on the racecourse.

This year, regatta organizers created the Maggie Flanigan Perpetual Trophy, which was given to the best-dressed crew.

She is survived by her parents, Lynn and Daniel Flanigan, of Towson; two brothers, Ryan Flanigan, of Nottingham, and James Flanigan, of Timonium; her maternal grandmother, Jackie Flournoy, of Hunt Valley; her nephew and godson, Brooks Flanigan; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

A celebration of life was held Aug. 30 in Pasadena, with family and friends wearing bright colors and glitter in her memory.

A 68-yard touchdown pass from Robert Maher to Caleb Adamah whistled through the muggy sky. Wolves coach Troy Gibson drew up the play in December, the day he was hired.

The subsequent fumble recovery wasn’t nearly as planned, but was still a timely grab by senior Omar Kargbo against his old team, Meade

Those sorts of explosive plays and lucky breaks could win games, someday. But on Friday, Meade just made more of them.

Behind new starting quarterback Alijah Johnson, the Mustangs secured their 43-6 triumph with three rushing touchdowns, a trio of long passing touchdowns and a safety. For a mostly new offense, diversity in scoring is what they hoped for and exactly what they got.

“Last year, we had three All-County receivers, even a running back All-County,” Johnson said. “This year, we’re hoping to get it going with the pieces we have.”

Those pieces include running backs Kam Henry, who rushed 24 times for 167 yards, as well as backs Jayden Rumley (one touchdown) and Keith Waller (two touchdowns). Meade ended its season a year ago on a missed field goal, but on Friday, new kicker Cole Bass booted 5 of 6 extra points.

Injuries to former starting quarterback Brian Jamison allowed Johnson to start in a few key games for Meade last fall. Otherwise, the lanky junior paced the sideline restlessly on Friday nights, intensely eyeing every play on the field and telling whoever asked it would soon be his turn.

Now that his turn has come, he’s making it count. The senior completed 10 passes for 185 yards amid his three-touchdown night without an interception.

“I knew what I was going to do,” Johnson said, “make plays for this school.”

The Mustangs stacked most of their scoring in the first half, a positive sign for Gibson and his Wolves defense.

“We left them to one touchdown in the second half,” he said. “We fought.”

The moment Mustangs defensive end Joshua Rowe lumbered at Maher to force and recover a fumble, momentum swung Meade’s way and hung there.

The Mustangs usurped the lead in the first quarter when junior Keith Waller broke free of the Wolves defense, for a 23-yard score, one of two on the night. His first tally came shortly after a 31-yard strike from Johnson to Jeffrey King.

In the second quarter, the two met again to craft their first touchdown together this fall — a 21-yard connection. That one needed three plays to cook up, but Johnson needed only to throw once for King to find him and watched him spirit away for 69 yards and a touchdown.

Johnson and King first sparked when injuries forced Meade to deploy their second-string quarterback and third-string wide receiver against Annapolis last Oct. 19. Their chemistry carried into 7-on-7s, Meade coach Tanardo Sharps said, and flowed right into the season.

Meade certainly didn’t need any help with scoring by the second frame, but Severn Run handed them two points anyway when a wobbly punt trickled back to the Wolves’ 1-yard line, and then fell beneath 900 pounds of Mustang defense in the end zone.

Meade’s mistakes didn’t wash out its successes on Friday, but against a more seasoned team, several flags per drive could bite more deeply. From the sideline, Sharps pleaded for discipline.

“I told the kids at the end of the day, focus on us and who we are and make sure we’re doing our job right,” Sharps said. “Opponent doesn’t matter.”

The Wolves could’ve at least slashed Meade’s lead in the third and fourth quarters. Twice, Maher guided his team down to the 1-yard line. Twice, the Meade defense stiffened.

“We can’t make turnovers, miss assignments, get penalties – it killed us. But we’ve only been together for two-and-a-half weeks. We’re young. We’re bringing in four different school cultures and our Severn Run culture together,” Gibson said. “It’ll take time, but they’re playing hard for our future.”

Most who shuffled into Severn Run’s first football tryout in mid-August would’ve attended Old Mill if the new school hadn’t opened. Some would’ve returned to Meade – and those still wearing gray and purple let them know.

The second Meade filed onto the field, players called out every former teammate they could find. When Wolves sophomore Caden Lingo pulled down a long pass, the Mustangs groaned. When Severn Run’s Jailen Washington strayed too close to the Meade sideline, Johnson informed him he still had his shirt. Washington flashed a thumbs down.

“It was definitely different,” Johnson said. “I was a little upset when they left us, but I knew they had to go.”