Players on the Warren girls flag football team celebrate and wave to their fans after beating Rosemead 35-0 in the program’s debut game Tuesday night, Aug. 22, at Warren High. (Photo by Cristian Vasquze)
DOWNEY — Friday night lights have been a staple at Warren High for the faithful Bears fans and the city of Downey.
Tuesday night it belonged to the Warren girls flag football team.
Having officially become a varsity team sport in the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) this year, Warren’s flag football team began its inaugural season with a game against Rosemead.
The Bears did not disappoint their fans.
Led by head coach Felipe Aguilar, the Bears blew out Rosemead 35-0.
A cheering crowd gathered in the stands as the Bears took an historic first victory for the new program.
Prior to game time, Aguilar discussed the adjustments his team has faced while putting together a first-year team.
“It’s been something that we’ve been preparing for the last month and a half,” said Aguilar. “It took a while to get to this point. Our girls are coming from different backgrounds, soccer, softball, and now coming together and learning football is something that has really brought us together.”
Aguilar’s team, which has 21 players on the roster, was led by senior quarterback Anahi Gonzalez and senior offensive and defensive threat Alyssa Bueno.
After an offensive mishap on Warren’s opening drive led to an interception, the Bears’ defense provided a big play. Senior Evelyn Prado returned an interception and returned it 65 yards to give the team its first points ever.
The Bears followed that with two big plays by Buen — an interception on defense followed by an 18-yard touchdown catch.
“It makes me feel great,” Bueno said. “This sport is a really big, new thing in this generation. Girls really didn’t get recognition and a lot of girls want to play football growing up (after) watching their brothers… I grew up in a football family.”
Warren’s two quarterbacks, Morales and freshman Isabella Gonzalez, both ended the night with two touchdowns each.
Morales recognized the importance of leaving behind an impact in the involvement of women in sports, specifically flag football for future athletes.
“We’re representing women and we’re making the sport bigger,” said Morales. “I really want girls to join flag football and be happy representing the girls.”
“I think right now it’s hard to even say what our limit is right now. The sky is the limit for us,” said Aguilar.
Warren’s flag football team will be on the road against Mater Dei on Thursday, Aug. 24.
Travis Burnett
A pioneer in the flag football community, Travis helped co-found the Flag Football World Championship Tour, FlagSpin and USA Flag. Featuring 15+ years of content creation for the sport of flag football, creating and managing the largest flag football tournaments on the planet, coaching experience at the youth and adult level as well as an active player with National and World Championship level experience.
