Anaheim flag football overpowers Castaic to win Division 5 championship

ORANGE — Winning the battle on both sides of the ball usually leads to a positive outcome.

That was the case for the Anaheim flag football team as it defeated Castaic, 32-6, to win the CIF-SS Division 5 championship on Saturday at El Modena High School.

Anaheim quarterback Alyssa Avelar completed 21 of 24 passes for 395 yards and five touchdowns.

Anaheim’s defense kept Castaic deep in its own territory for much of the contest.

Winning on both sides of the ball helped the Colonists take home their first CIF Southern Section title in the three-year history of the program.

“As an athlete and as a coach, you always dream about getting a CIF ring,” Anaheim coach Vince Gomez said. “I say the best thing that got us here were all the top teams that we played. They’re the ones that prepared us for this moment. They prepared us for the big day.”

Three of the five touchdowns for the Colonists (16-10) came on big plays.

In the first quarter, Avelar threw a 57-yard touchdown pass to Ashely Guzman and then another 57-yard scoring pass to Sophia Sewell.

Anaheim led 25-6 in the third quarter when Avelar connected with Sewell again, this time for a 66-yard touchdown.

“I always practiced throwing all the time,” said Avelar, who also plays softball and basketball for the Colonists. “I’ve always liked throwing far and I just believe in my teammates catching the passes. I just want to give hanks to my team. Without them, I wouldn’t be able to do it.”

Avelar was also accurate, often hitting receivers who were well covered.

And the receivers also made several leaping catches.

Sewell finished with 217 yards receiving and two touchdowns.

“I just think it is the connection that me and Alyssa have,” Sewell said. “With how well she can throw and how far she can throw, for me, it’s just being there and securing the ball and then just taking it there. It’s a really good connection.”

Anaheim forced the Coyotes (15-11) to punt on four of five first-half possessions.

The Colonists also stopped the Coyotes on fourth down three times and had two interceptions.

Castaic’s touchdown came in the third quarter on a 23-yard pass from Larkin Smith to Charlotte Wheeler.

“Our defense was everything,” Gomez said. “We were watching film. They ran a lot of different formations and we just had to study everything, and at that point it was just pulling flags. We had a great game overall. I thank everybody for just playing hard.”