Flag Football: Mountain Vista’s Ariana Akey Named MaxPreps National Player of the Year

CALIFORNIA – Ariana Akey of Mountain Vista (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) has been named the 2025-26 MaxPreps National Player of the Year for flag football after leading her school to back-to-back unbeaten seasons.

The inaugural winner of the award, Akey quarterbacked Mountain Vista to a second straight Class 5A state championship and went 38-0 in her career as a varsity starter.

Akey was one of five finalists that included Mariah Harrison of Central (Phenix City, Ala.), Jaylani Palmer of Shadow Ridge (Las Vegas, Nev.), Samaya Taylor-Jenkins of Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.) and Daisy Throckmorton of McClatchy (Sacramento, Calif.).

MaxPreps National Player of the Year Ariana Akey totaled more than 11,700 yards and 200 touchdowns during her Mountain Vista career.

Akey was quick to acknowledge some of her fellow finalists for the award.

“I was very honored, I was really stunned. It was awesome, very exciting,” Akey said. “I played with Daisy and Samaya. Not only are we different positions, but we play differently. I’m more of a pocket passer, dual-threat. I’m not entirely sure what you guys saw because I know from playing with those two that they’re unbelievable athletes and unbelievable people.”

Akey completed 67 percent of her passes for 4,545 yards and 89 touchdowns through the air while running for another 1,526 yards and 22 scores on the ground. In the state championship game, she completed 31 of 40 passes for 365 yards and two TDs while running 18 times for 104 yards and five scores in a 48-26 win over Legend.

She also more than doubled her production on the defensive side of the ball from her junior to senior year with 102 flag pulls, 10 interceptions and four sacks.

For her career, Akey compiled 8,980 passing yards with 171 touchdowns and 2,769 rushing yards with 35 scores.

With flag football continuing to grow at the NCAA Division I level, Akey became the first high school player to commit to a major program in April when she chose Nebraska. She said her relationship with head coach Liz Sowers was a major factor in her decision.

“I thought they were originally going to Cal Poly and then it turned out they ended up going to Nebraska,” Akey said. “I kept looking at options and then I went out to Nebraska. Loved it. And it’s closer to home than some of the other schools, which I really loved as well. Then decided a couple days after my visit to commit to Nebraska.”

Akey shined on a national stage in February, earning MVP honors in the NFL FLAG Showcase during the Pro Bowl festivities.