Flag football: Warren’s Waters lets her play do the talking in win over Mundelein
Anyya Waters doesn’t speak softly and carry a big stick.
Warren’s blossoming flag football player speaks sparingly and moves the sticks — via her abilities on the gridiron.
Waters, a junior, caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Peyton Nissen at 5:49 of the fourth quarter in the Blue Devils’ 18-14 defeat of Mundelein on Saturday afternoon at Stevenson.
She then danced briefly in the end zone, all while raising her right arm and twirling it as teammates surrounded her and celebrated what turned out to be the game-winning score.
Syllables uttered by a smiling Waters, during the fun display in Lincolnshire?
“I doubt she said anything; Anyya rarely speaks,” said Warren coach K.C. Lange, a 1995 Prospect graduate who played strong safety for the Knights. “She does things, good things, for us. And her favorite way of communicating is through actions. She’s figuring things out in flag football, and her IQ in the sport has shot up in the last few weeks.
“Her confidence … that’s way up, too,” he added.
Warren senior Sophie Dolinar also stood out in the balmy conditions against the Mustangs (1-5), returning an estimated 60-yard interception for a TD and booming an 80-yard punt — another estimated distance, with a little help from the kick’s roll — in the first half.
Warren (4-6) led 12-8 at halftime.
Neither team scored in the third quarter.
Mundelein senior Dayanara Aguilera, who’s also a varsity soccer player, made a clutch stop on a fourth-and-goal at the start of the fourth quarter, pulling a Blue Devils flag at the Mustangs’ 7-yard line after a 14-yard reception to force a turnover on downs.
She later collected a swing pass from senior QB Casey Vyverman and sprinted 52 yards for a TD, cutting the Blue Devils’ lead to 18-14 with 47 seconds left.
“Dayanara is such a fast, phenomenal athlete,” said Mundelein assistant coach Randy Lerner, filling in for Julie Ellingsen. “Our team has a lot of outstanding athletes, from seniors all the way down to our freshmen.”
Mundelein freshman Anna Knop, one of four Class of 2029 Mustangs in the flag football fold, suffered what appeared to be a shoulder injury in the second half but returned to action after receiving assistance from the on-site athletic trainer.
Warren ran out the final 47 seconds to secure the victory.
Warren — a first-year IHSA flag football program, after competing as a club last fall — had lost 44-6 to Stevenson on Saturday morning.
“We woke up and played much better in our second game today,” Lange said.
Stevenson improved to 8-1 overall with its win over Warren. The Patriots’ lone loss was to Carmel Catholic on Sept. 4.
Libertyville and Lake Zurich also competed at Stevenson on Saturday.