Warren alumni Mariah Aceves, left, Anahi Morales, center, and Nataly Arevalo are a big part of Hope International University’s flag football as they practice on Wednesday for their NAIA National Championships in Florida. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)

FULLERTON – The last two seasons, Warren High School has won the Gateway League in flag football.

Fast forward a year later and three former Bears players from those two years are Great Southwest Athletic Conference (GSAC) Champions at Hope International University (HIU) and are competing for a national title, May 6-9 in Bradenton, Florida.

The NAIA National Championship tournament is in its sixth year.

In just the program’s first year of conference competition, the Royals captured a berth in the inaugural GSAC Conference Tournament. They finished with an outstanding 15-2 overall record and a perfect 12-0 conference mark, which included the GSAC championships.

Leading the way is conference MVP Quarterback, Anahi Morales, along with linebackers Nataly Arevalo and Mariah Aceves. All three are freshmen in their first year of college.

Unfortunately, Aceves was injured before the season began, but has been a big part of the team with her support.

“Since high school these girls have put in the work and time and I think it’s just a testament to their dedication to their sport, their family and everything,” said first-year HIU coach and former Warren coach Felipe Aguilar, of the three players. “You see the hard work that they are putting in and it’s showing playing at the national level now.”

There is also a fourth former Warren player, Genesis Morales, that is also playing college flag football. Morales just finished her freshmen season at Arizona Christian University.

“Warren is doing it the right way, getting girls out, and I think that’s going to continue in the future,” Aguilar said. Of his transition from Warren to Hope University, Aguilar said, “It all happened super-fast.”

“Together, Morales, Arevalo, and Aceves represented Warren with pride while helping establish HIU flag football as one of the top programs in the GSAC. Their contributions were vital in making history and setting the standard for future Royals teams.

“These three proud Warren alumni played major roles in helping lead the Royals to a historic season.”

Leading the charge offensively was quarterback Morales, who delivered an exceptional season behind center. She threw for over 2,000 passing yards and 39 touchdowns, consistently guiding the Royals offense with poise, leadership, and playmaking ability.

In the regular season, Morales was 190 for 273 with only six interceptions. She also rushed for 238 yards on 55 attempts and nine TDs and even caught a receiving touchdown.

She was also the GSAC Player of the Week twice during the season.

“Her production and command of the game were key factors in HIU’s dominant run through conference play,” Aguilar said.

Morales’ ACL injury before her junior year in high school put a big damper on her future, she thought. She spent her whole senior year rehabilitating, all the while just hoping for another opportunity.

“I just can’t believe it, especially with my injury, I never thought that I would come back and be double strong,” she said. “I thought that I was going to be done. It’s beautiful knowing that I had this opportunity with the coach that I have been with since my sophomore year (high school). It’s just a blessing.

“I just think that (coach Aguilar) really saw something in us (three Warren players) and he took us in and he knew that we were going to become something and we did. We made a name for ourselves being the GSAC champions. It’s a blessing that coach picked us three.”

In the semifinal game of the GSAC Championships, Morales led her team to an easy 44-8 win over Simpson College (Iowa). She was 20 for 27 for 187 yards and two TDs.

The title game was a different story, as La Sierra University (Riverside) gave it all they could, but fell just short, 13-7.

Trailing 7-0, late in the second quarter with under a minute, Morales connected with freshman wide receiver Ana Sedic for the score and the extra point to tie the game, 7-7.

The winning score came on the Royals first offensive possession in the third quarter as Morales ran in a 12-yard TD to lead, 13-7.

“When you play a team three times, the coaches will make the adjustments and when you play a team more and more, the games get tighter and tighter,” said Aguilar, whose team had previously defeated La Sierra by scores of 38-0 and 35-0. “They (La Sierra) played well and it’s one of the best games I’ve seen them play. I don’t think we had our best game, but our girls played hard enough to definitely help us win.”

The Royals controlled the second half defensively and held on for the win.

“I never would have thought that I would be representing Downey in the National Championships,” concluded Morales.

On the defensive side, Arevalo, who is a linebacker, led the team with 48 solo tackles and had five assists. In the GSAC playoffs she had three solo tackles in the semifinals and also in the championships.

“Honestly, It’s really exciting and amazing and such a great opportunity,” said Arevalo, of playing with her two Warren teammates in college.

“I actually just started playing flag football in my senior year of high school. I played soccer before that. I really love flag.”

Arevalo said of her flag coaches, “It’s really great because these coaches were my coaches in high school and also in club. They have just made this experience so wonderful. It’s such a blessing to have such great coaches.

“We’ve just been running so smoothly for a while and it’s been really rewarding with what we have gone through.”

Arevalo, who will be coaching defense for Warren this next season, was given the nickname of “D-only” for her exuberance to pull flags, etc.

Anahi Morales said of Arevalo – “She’s an amazing player,” said Morales of her childhood friend since they were in third grade. “She is the leader on the defense. Our team wouldn’t be together if she wasn’t there.”

Coach Aguilar also talked of Arevalo’s tenacity on defense and her love for that side of the ball. “Defensively, team captain Nataly Arevalo set the tone with toughness and consistency,” he said. “As one of the leading flag pullers on both the team and in the conference, Arevalo anchored the Royals defense while providing leadership that helped keep the team focused throughout the season. Her relentless effort and ability to make key stops were instrumental in HIU’s success.”

A month before the season, Aceves tore her ACL for the second time. That would end her season before it even began.

“That was really hard to except, but just thinking, I have to get better for next season,” said Aceves, after tearing it the first time in high school.

Aceves said of the popularity of the sport, “It’s exciting to see everything grow,” she said. “This sport is really new and there are all of these opportunities out there.

“Just a few years ago none of us never thought we’d be playing football. My first year on flag I played both offense and defense, but I did love defense a lot more. I remember telling the coaches to let me play defense the whole time.”

Aguilar knew of her importance on the team, even though she is not playing.

“Everybody has a role on this team and Aceves definitely took on the role of being there for the girls emotionally and not being selfish and helping out wherever she can,” said Aguilar, of his injured player. “It shows like the character she has and she’s an amazing young lady.

“Although sidelined after suffering a torn ACL before the season began, Aceves still made a tremendous impact on the program. Aceves embraced an important leadership role off the field, helping to create a positive culture and strong team chemistry that became a foundation for the Royals’ success. Her support, energy, and commitment to her teammates showed that leadership goes far beyond game day performances.

Anahi also saw the importance of Aceves.

“Mariah will pay attention to details and on the sideline she is the person watching us,” Morales said. “She will tell it like it is.”

Another outstanding player for the Royals is not from Warren, but comes from Hawaii and has been a big part of the success of the team.

Madison Powell, who played on both sides of the ball for the Royals, has been the number one threat on offense as wide receiver and has developed a connection with Morales.

“Everyone is playing at such a high level in college catching the balls and I could see her athletic ability that she was great and could carry our team a lot and she did,” Powell said.

Powell also said of the importance of the three players from Warren saying, “I think it’s really good and it creates a bigger bond and they know how each other plays. It helps us out a lot.”

Powell led with 73 receptions for 837 yards and 15 touchdowns, with her best game coming against Simpson with 108 yards and four TDs. On defense, she had five interceptions and 66 solo tackles and four assists.

She was also chosen as the Defense Player of the Week for the two GSAC playoff games.

In the championship game she had six catches for 80 yds.

“I was lucky to find a talent like Madison Powell,” said Aguilar, of his top receiver. “It’s one of those things like when you find that gem. She has been amazing – Player of the Year (GSAC) and a great leader.

“You do see that connection (with QB Morales) when she is rolling around her first eyes go to Maddy, but as she grows she is going to develop that relationship with other receivers and spread the ball around.”

“Now, the Royals will have an opportunity to continue their historic season as Hope International has automatically qualified for the NAIA National Championship postseason tournament in Florida,” Aguilar concluded. “With strong leadership, elite talent, and momentum on their side, HIU will compete for a national title as they look to cap off a remarkable year.”

Aguilar also talked of the future for the program saying, “We put ourselves now as one of the top programs in the country,” Aguilar added. “The way we went through our conference with the wins pretty convincingly, it shows the growth of our program and where it’s going to be in a couple of years.”

Assisting Aguilar is Ryan McFaddin, Phil Marquez and current Warren head coach Chad Bell.

Warren alumni lead Hope International to conference title