For the last 54 years, a lot of young boys have grown up in Ankeny wanting to play football for coach Jerry Pezzetti.
Some of those players wanted to follow in the footsteps of their fathers who played for Pezzetti.
That was the case for Drew Carlson, a standout linebacker on Ankeny’s 2012 state championship team. His father, Luke, starred for Pezzetti three decades earlier.
“I remember seeing my dad’s senior photo hung in the gym above the northeast exit at the old high school,” Drew said. “He was named to the 1983 all-state team, which might as well have been the Pro Football Hall of Fame in my eyes. Ever since then, he has been my biggest role model and inspiration for picking up the game. We’ve shared a lot of good memories from him coaching me in Ankeny Junior Football to attending all things Ankeny athletics while he was the trainer.”
Jeff Hall was another star for Pezzetti in the early part of his coaching career. An all-stater in 1978, he credited his success to his teammates as well as to the coaches.
“I was always surrounded by great players and coaches. There’s no ‘I’ in team,” Hall said. “And there’s nothing more you can say about Pezzetti. He’s a great one!”
Both Carlsons and Hall are members of the Ankeny Fanatic all-time Ankeny football team. Last week, we announced the first installment of the all-time team from the modern era.
We will announce the second and first teams on each of the next two Mondays. Here, now, is the second installment of the all-time team from the Pezzetti era:
THIRD TEAM
JJ Kohl, QB: He began his career at Ankeny Centennial, where he started as a sophomore in 2020 and helped the Jaguars to a playoff berth in the COVID-shortened season. He completed 68-of-134 passes for 891 yards and three touchdowns while being intercepted six times. The 6-foot-6 Kohl then transferred to Ankeny, where he helped lead the Hawks to a 10-3 record and a runner-up finish in Class 5A in 2021. He completed 143-of-237 passes for 2,185 yards and 25 touchdowns while throwing just four interceptions. After struggling in a 14-7 loss to his former team, Kohl rebounded the next week to complete 13-of-15 passes for 150 yards and four touchdowns in a 27-13 win over Dowling Catholic at Valley Stadium. He later went 17-of-19 for 271 yards and four scores in a victory over Des Moines Roosevelt, then went 18-of-30 for 331 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-35 loss at Valley. He was named to the all-state second team. “Some of my favorite high school memories came from my junior year,” Kohl said. “I really enjoyed playing with my teammates at the Dome.” Prior to his senior year, Kohl blossomed on the camp circuit, earning Quarterback MVP honors at the Under Armour All-American Camp and attracting scholarship offers from more than a dozen FBS schools. He eventually committed to play for Iowa State, where his father, Jamie, was a kicker for the Cyclones. At the time of his commitment, Kohl was considered a four-star recruit–the No. 325 player in the country, No. 17 quarterback and No. 3 prospect in Iowa by the 247Composite. He became the Cyclones’ second-highest rated quarterback commit in the 247 era behind only Hunter Dekkers, Iowa State’s current starter. “The biggest reason why I chose Iowa State is because of the people,” Kohl said. “I have a great relationship with coach Campbell and (the other coaches). They believed in me before anyone else did. They were my first offer, and they were really excited when I committed.” Kohl then led Ankeny to a 9-2 record in his senior season. He completed 155-of-239 passes for 2,023 yards and 17 touchdowns while being intercepted just four times. In a rematch of the 2021 title game, he completed 21-of-23 passes for 261 yards and four touchdowns in the Hawks’ 31-14 victory at Southeast Polk, which rebounded from that loss to win a second straight crown. Kohl was named to the all-state first team. He played in the 15th Under Armour Next All-America Game on Jan. 3 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, where he helped Team Phantom to a 14-7 victory over Team Speed.
Tony Eichenseer, RB: He was a two-time all-state pick who led Ankeny to an 8-2 record in 1995, when the Hawks won the CIML National Conference title and advanced to the Class 4A playoffs for the first time in four years. He rushed for 1,272 yards and 18 touchdowns on 240 carries. He surpassed the 100-yard mark in nine of the 10 games, failing to do so only in a loss at Ames, where he injured an ankle early in the first quarter and was unable to return. He later set a single-game school record with 37 rushing attempts in a 21-6 win at Valley that clinched the outright league crown. He was named the Des Moines Register’s Offensive Player of the Year in the National Conference. He was also named to the all-state first team after earning second-team honors as a junior. “We relied on him probably more than any back we’ve ever had,” Pezzetti said. He was the CIML rushing champion as a junior in 1994, when he ran for a school-record 1,398 yards on 227 carries. He rushed for 150 yards or more in seven of his nine games and also scored 17 touchdowns. He also led the conference in punting with a 38.1 average. “Tony had a great year, but he’s the first guy to give credit to his teammates for his success,” Pezzetti said at the time. “He’s strictly a team player.” He ran 32 times for 162 yards and three touchdowns in the Hawks’ 56-50 victory at Urbandale in double overtime. Ankeny’s defense stopped Urbandale quarterback Erick Turner short of the goal line on fourth down to preserve the win. “That was an incredible game,” Pezzetti said. “We definitely set every record in our conference for points and touchdowns.” Eichenseer picked up the slack after fellow running back Aaron Robinson suffered a season-ending knee injury midway through the campaign. He rushed for a career-high 238 yards on 30 carries in the season finale against Valley. “Tony’s very deserving (of his honors),” Pezzetti said then. “He’s a complete football player. He runs hard, and he blocks well, too.” He went on to play at Drake, where he switched to defensive end and was named to the Pioneer Football League all-academic team in 1999.
Jeff Hall, RB: As a junior in 1977, he played on the first Ankeny team to play a game at what is now Ankeny Stadium–but a fumble late in the fourth quarter proved costly as the Hawks fell to Des Moines North. That team went on to win six of its final eight games, including a victory at Indianola that started on a Friday night and ended on a Monday. A downpour late in the third quarter drenched both the players and fans, abruptly bringing an end to the contest. The 14-0 Ankeny lead was posted as the final score by game officials, but Indianola school officials and the Iowa High School Athletic Association decided to have the game completed. The Hawks returned to Indianola three nights later to play the remaining 11 minutes and 20 seconds, and they added two more touchdowns for a 28-0 win. In 1978, Hall was the star of an Ankeny team that posted an 8-1 record, losing only to playoff-bound Urbandale. “We got screwed out of the playoffs,” Hall said. “We beat Valley by four touchdowns, which I scored, but they went and we stayed home.” Still, the Hawks tied Urbandale and South Tama for the Central Iowa Conference title. Hall set a pair of school records with 1,061 yards rushing and 80 points scored. In conference games only, he led the league with 756 yards on 155 carries for a 4.9 yard average. “He could take a 2-yard hole and make it a 5- or 6-yard gain easy,” said Dave Jones, one of the linemen who blocked for Hall. “We had a lot of fun. It was a senior-dominated team, and he was one of our leaders. He was a good player and a good friend.” Hall was a unanimous pick to the all-conference team and was also named to the all-state second team. He was planning to go to Iowa State until Ohio State coach Woody Hayes infamously punched Clemson’s Charlie Bauman during the Gator Bowl, got fired and was replaced by Cyclones coach Earle Bruce. “I should’ve went to Iowa State,” Hall said. “I had a full-ride as a junior, but Bruce left us all high and dry. Destiny put me at Drake, where I got to play with (former Ankeny teammate Pat) Dunsmore again.” Hall and Dunsmore were a part of the best Drake team in school history. Dunsmore then went on to play in the NFL. “They had an article about Pat and me in the Chicago Tribune after he went to the Bears,” Hall said. While starring at Ankeny, Hall had an impact on the younger players coming up behind him. “One of the players that I looked up to going through the Ankeny system was Jeff,” said Greg Buttz, who was three years younger than Hall. “He was a remarkable high hurdler and a very tough running back. He was my host at Drake when I got recruited by Drake. I’ve got nothing but positive things to say about Jeff for what he was as a person and also what he was as an athlete.”
Arland Bruce IV, WR: He played in only seven games at Ankeny in the 2020 season, but his impact was undeniable as he helped the Hawks to the state title. He accounted for 1,111 total yards and 13 touchdowns as a running back and receiver. In the quarterfinals, Bruce racked up 291 total yards and scored all four of his team’s touchdowns in a 28-7 victory at Waukee. Then, in the semifinals, he picked off a pass from Dowling Catholic quarterback Jaxon Smolik in the end zone, clinching Ankeny’s 31-24 triumph in double overtime and bringing the greatest dynasty in Iowa high school football history to an end. The Maroons had won the previous seven Class 4A state championships. “I had only been on defense like three or four times before that,” Bruce said. “The quarterback looked at the receiver pretty long, and that was their best receiver (Louis Brooks). I could tell he was running a fade because he faked the slant. I saw the ball go up in the air and then I caught it in like the blink of an eye. The next thing I know I’m at the bottom of a dogpile and I couldn’t breathe.” He also accounted for 145 total yards in the win. “Bruce is a difference-maker,” Dowling coach Tom Wilson said afterwards. “He hits the cutback very well. He has enough speed that you try to get the angle on him, and then he sticks his foot in the ground and cuts. It’s tough. He’s a great player, and there’s a reason he’s going to the University of Iowa.” A week later, Bruce ran for 91 yards and two touchdowns while catching seven passes for 58 yards and another score as the Hawks routed Southeast Polk, 42-14, in the title game. In the second quarter, he made a cut in the open field that left future Hawkeye teammate Xavier Nwankpa grasping for air and raced 34 yards to the end zone. He was named to the Elite all-state team by The Des Moines Register. “It was insane how much talent we had on that team,” Bruce said. “I feel like there were a lot of guys who went unnoticed. (Quarterback) Jase Bauer was one of the greatest players I’ve played with, and I feel like he was underrated and underappreciated.” Before coming to Ankeny, Bruce was a star at Olathe (Kan.) North, where he rushed for 2,479 yards and 43 touchdowns as a junior and was named the Kansas City Metro Player of the Year while earning first-team all-state honors. He was a second-team all-state pick as a sophomore quarterback. Bruce transferred to Ankeny after Olathe North cancelled its 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, then sat out the first five games before he was ruled eligible to play. “I just think about how crazy and hectic it was. It was kind of like a movie. Some of it doesn’t feel real. It just feels so surreal. I still can’t believe that was two years ago. It went by so fast,” Bruce said. “I had the greatest time. I met the nicest people, and I made some great connections. There’s a lot of people that I love there in Ankeny.” Bruce spent two seasons at Iowa, where he accounted for 274 total yards and four touchdowns as a freshman in 2021. He caught 19 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown this season while helping the Hawkeyes to a 7-5 record. Prior to the team’s bowl game, Bruce announced that he was entering the transfer portal. “I want to first and foremost thank God for allowing me to be in the position I am, without him nothing would be possible,” he tweeted. “I am extremely grateful for coach (Kirk) Ferentz and coach (Kelton) Copeland taking a chance on a young kid from Olathe, Kansas trying to pursue his dreams. To all my coaches, teammates, training staff, and Hawkeye nation, thank you for the support you’ve shown in the past two years. I’ve learned a lot about myself and built bonds that will truly last a lifetime. After much thought and prayer, I am entering the transfer portal with two years of eligibility remaining.” Bruce announced on Jan. 14 that he would transfer to Oklahoma State. “Mama I’m a Cowboy,” he tweeted.
Marshall Clark, WR: After joining Ankeny’s varsity team as a freshman in 2010, he became a star over the next two seasons before finishing his high school career at Centennial. As a sophomore, he was the Hawks’ leading receiver with 36 catches for 792 yards and nine touchdowns. In 2012, he again led the team in receiving with 37 catches for 739 yards and five scores, despite missing two or three games early in the season. He had three catches for 46 yards in the season opener against Marshalltown, then found out the following day that he had mononucleosis. “I was puking all day at school and all during the game, then went to the doctor the next day and he said I had mono,” Clark said. “That was very hard watching the team go play and knowing I couldn’t help besides being a cheerleader on the sideline. (Assistant) coach Andy Brodell and other coaches helped me a lot through that process because they knew it was killing me not to play so I was very thankful for them during that time.” He had three receptions for 84 yards in the Class 4A championship game against Cedar Rapids Xavier, including a 34-yard catch-and-run to the Saints’ 12-yard line that set up quarterback Joel Lanning’s go-ahead 5-yard touchdown run shortly thereafter. “I was thinking we had to get the ball to our playmakers,” Lanning said at the time. “Marshall made a great play on the hitch route. He dodged some people.” Ankeny went on to post a 23-17 victory. “Winning state will always be one of my favorite memories,” Clark said. “Another one would be my one-handed catch and run for a touchdown against Southeast Polk my sophomore year in the quarterfinals.” Clark, who averaged 39.6 yards on 22 punts in 2012, was named to the all-state third team. As a senior, Clark moved across town when Centennial opened and switched to running back. In his first game as a Jaguar, he raced 59 yards for a touchdown to help Centennial to a 17-7 win over Ankeny in the first-ever meeting between the rivals. “That was the first score of the game,” Clark said. “It was a unique rivalry at the time I was in high school with us coming off the state title, we split up, and then we play each other the first game. It felt strange because I grew up with a lot of those guys and I’m good buddies with a lot of them as well.” He led the team in rushing with 878 yards and 11 touchdowns on 102 carries. He also caught seven passes for 216 yards and another score, averaging nearly 31 yards per catch. He rushed for 191 yards and two touchdowns, one of them an 84-yard scamper, in a 34-30 loss at Ames. He was selected to the all-state second team. Clark went on to play at Grand View, where he moved back to receiver.
Greg Allen, TE: He was a workhorse running back who rushed for 974 yards as a junior at Ankeny in 1988. The Hawks opened the season with back-to-back losses to Des Moines Hoover and Indianola, which hadn’t defeated them in 15 years, but then reeled off a five-game winning streak. The fourth of those five wins came against rival Urbandale, which built a 14-7 lead before Ankeny rallied in the second half. With the ball at the J-Hawks’ 33-yard line, Allen took a handoff and began his onslaught against Urbandale’s defense. He punished seven would-be tacklers on his way to the end zone for the tying touchdown. With less than 2 minutes left to play, future Slipknot band member Chris Fehn kicked a 27-yard field goal to give the Hawks a 17-14 victory. Ankeny finished with a 6-4 record after losing to Ames, 36-21, in the first round of the playoffs. Pezzetti attributed his team’s turnaround to “the players believing in themselves and not giving up.” Then, as a senior, Allen led the Hawks to a 10-2 record and their first appearance in the Class 4A semifinals, where they lost to Sioux City Heelan. He rushed for 1,238 yards and scored 142 points, both of which were school records at the time. He was named to the Class 4A all-state first team and was the Iowa Gatorade player of the year. Also an all-stater on the basketball court, he was earlier named to the Ankeny Fanatic all-time Ankeny boys’ basketball team. In 2006, he was named the No. 39 greatest athlete in Ankeny High School history by the Ankeny Register & Press Citizen. Allen went on to become a tight end for Iowa, where he lettered for the Hawkeyes in 1991, 1992 and 1994.
Andy Larson, OL: He started as a junior on Ankeny’s state runner-up team in 2007, contributing 12 super blocks for the Hawks. As a senior, he became a two-way lineman. On offense, he made 19 super blocks as Ankeny set new school records with 244 first downs and 522 points. The Hawks set two more records with 5,792 total yards and 4,625 rushing yards, leading all Class 4A teams in those categories. On defense, Larson made 49 tackles and had three sacks. He was named to the all-state first team.
Bill Lee, OL: A guard, he was a standout on the first Ankeny team to automatically qualify for the playoffs in 1985. The Central Iowa Conference champion became an automatic qualifier that season, so the league champ–if classified as a Class 4A school–would not have to wait for a phone call at the end of the season from IHSAA officials. The Hawks knocked off an undefeated Urbandale team midway through the season, then later posted a 38-14 win over Newton to wrap up the conference title and secure a playoff berth. Ankeny eventually lost to Dowling Catholic, 14-10, in the first round. Lee helped pave the way for an offensive attack that rushed for 2,245 yards, the second-best total in school history. He was named to the all-state first team. He went on to play briefly for South Dakota.
David Northwick, OL: He was a three-year starter at Ankeny from 1995-97 who capped off his career by helping the Hawks to the first state championship in school history. As a sophomore, he earned a starting spot and helped Ankeny to an 8-2 record and the conference title. In 1996, he made seven super blocks for a team that finished with a 5-4 mark. As a senior, he was the anchor of an offensive line that played a key role in the team’s run to the Class 4A crown. He led the Hawks with 14 super blocks and was named to the all-state second team. Northwick went on to play for Drake.
Nathan Rouse, OL: He was another lineman who made an impact on both sides of the ball during his career at Ankeny. As a junior in 2006, he made 19 tackles for a team that posted an 8-3 record. He helped the Hawks to a 35-0 win at Marshalltown that gave Pezzetti his 300th career win, becoming only the sixth coach in state history to reach the milestone. In 2007, Rouse became the anchor of the offensive line and helped Ankeny to a runner-up finish in Class 4A. He was credited with 24 super blocks as the Hawks set new school records for total offense, rushing yards, first downs and points. He was named to the Elite all-state team. Rouse went on to play at Central College, where he was named to the Iowa Conference all-academic team multiple times.
Kaden Young, OL: He was a standout lineman at Ankeny from 2016-18, where he helped the Hawks to a 15-14 record during that stretch. As a sophomore, he helped protect senior quarterback Blaine Hawkins, who went on to enjoy a record-setting career at Central College. The Hawks overcame an 0-3 start to win their last six games of the regular season, allowing them to clinch a playoff berth. They then lost to Centennial, 34-24, in the opening round. In 2018, Young again helped Ankeny overcome an 0-3 start. The Hawks went 5-1 down the stretch to qualify for the playoffs, where they nearly knocked off heavily-favored Valley before dropping a 24-21 decision. “Looking back on my time at Ankeny, we had a few tough years when I was there, but I think about the way myself and the guys around me worked to change the culture and that really showed shortly after we were gone,” Young said. “Credit to (coach) Rick Nelson and the amazing coaching staff as well for that. My favorite memories were probably just the atmosphere. I’ve played a lot of football at a pretty high level, but nothing compares to the stands on a Friday night in Ankeny.” Young was named to the all-state third team. He went on to play for Grand View, where he was a three-year starter playing both left and right tackle. As a junior, he helped the Vikings to the championship game of the NAIA FCS playoffs, where they dropped a 38-28 decision to Morningside. Young was named the team’s offensive lineman of the year this season after helping Grand View to a 13-1 record. The Vikings reached the semifinals of the playoffs before losing to Keiser University, 38-21.
Cole Netten, PK: He made his varsity debut as a freshman at Ankeny in 2008, stepping into the lineup when Zeb Miller–who was later named to the Elite all-state team–suffered an injury late in the season. Netten made both of his field-goal attempts and all 19 of his PAT tries in the playoffs as the Hawks reached the Class 4A semifinals. In 2009, he made 40-of-45 PATs and 5-of-9 field goals, including one from 42 yards. He kicked a game-winning 20-yard field goal to give Ankeny a 32-29 win at Waukee in double overtime in the season opener. As a junior, he made 7-of-13 field goals and 40-of-43 PATs as the Hawks again advanced to the Class 4A semifinals. In 2011, Netten made 11-of-14 field goals and 47-of-50 PATs as Ankeny went 11-2 and reached the semifinals for the third time in his four-year career. He was named to the all-state first team. “Besides just being incredibly close with my teammates, I think my favorite part about playing at Ankeny was getting to leave practice early because I was a kicker,” Netten said. “You see, (assistant coach Peter) Rameh was my kicking coach so we would kick at the beginning of practice then go lift while everybody else was still practicing, then we would just go home when we were done. I’d drive by practice every day smiling because I got to go home. Nowhere else on any team would that have been acceptable.” Netten said he also enjoyed playing games on the road because of a postgame tradition. “We would always go out to Applebee’s after every away game,” he said. “We’d order about 30 half-price appetizers for about six of us and just pig out. It’s still one of the greatest traditions I’ve been a part of!” Netten then went on to enjoy an outstanding collegiate career at Iowa State, where he set school records with 138 career PATs and 300 career points. He made 94.1 percent of his field-goal attempts in 2016 and 79.4 percent of his attempts in his career, setting two more marks. He also shares the school record for consecutive field goals made–he converted 15 in a row in 2015-16. The highlight of his career came in 2014, when he kicked the game-winning 42-yard field goal with 2 seconds left to beat Iowa, 20-17, at Kinnick Stadium. Netten appeared to miss his first try at the game-winner, but the Hawkeyes had already called a timeout. His second attempt went straight through the uprights. That was Iowa State’s last win in the Cy-Hawk series until the Cyclones posted a 10-7 victory in Iowa City this season.
Adam Cassidy, DL: He played on all three of Ankeny’s teams that won back-to-back-to-back CIML Central Conference titles from 2002-04. As a senior, he was named to the Elite all-state team as a defensive lineman, but he started both ways. He placed third on the squad with 67 tackles and made a team-high 24 super blocks on offense. Cassidy played a key role in the Hawks’ 28-7 victory at Sioux City Heelan in the Class 4A quarterfinals. “He was a stud,” said Mike Fontana, who coached Ankeny’s defensive line at the time. “He took over that Heelan game on the defensive line. Wherever they ran it, he was there.” He went on to play at Augustana College (S.D.).
Luke Carlson, DL: As a junior at Ankeny in 1982, he helped the Hawks to an 8-2 record and the conference title. As a senior, he was one of the leaders of a defensive unit that allowed just 80 points all season. Ankeny led the conference in total defense and posted an 8-1 mark, but did not advance to the playoffs. Carlson was a repeat pick to the all-conference first team and was also selected to the all-state second team. “I just did Ok,” said Carlson, who is now the owner of Luke Carlson Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine in Ankeny. He went on to play at Northern Iowa from 1984-88, but modestly said that he wasn’t a standout. “I didn’t earn any awards,” Carlson said. His son, Drew, was an all-state linebacker on Ankeny’s state championship team in 2012 (see below).
Tanner Morgan, DL: He racked up 105 tackles in his career at Centennial from 2013-15, helping the Jaguars to a combined record of 22-10 in their first three seasons as a varsity program. As a sophomore, he earned some playing time in Centennial’s inaugural campaign, finishing with 13 tackles. In 2014, he made 15 tackles and had a pair of sacks. Then, as a senior, he became a star for a team that went 8-3 and won the district title. He recorded 77 tackles, including 18 for losses and eight sacks. “Morgan was damn good,” said Centennial assistant coach Mike Fontana. “I’ve coached some elite players in my career, and he was one of the best. He had an extremely high motor. He’s the only guy I’ve coached in my life that got a 15-yard penalty between snaps. He said something he shouldn’t have.” He had eight tackles and recovered a fumble in the Jaguars’ 16-14 upset over second-ranked Valley. “My favorite memory is definitely winning at Valley to lock up the district title,” Morgan said. “We started that season out 2-2 with a close loss to Ankeny and a blowout loss to Southeast Polk–two teams you never want to lose to. Coming back from those two losses to beat Valley and win a district title showed the resiliency of our team. Really what I took from that season as a whole is that no matter how bad things are you just have to keep your head down and continue to work.” Morgan, who was named to the all-state first team, also excelled as a long snapper. He was a nationally-ranked prospect at that position and decided to join Oklahoma State’s program as a preferred walk-on. He started as a long snapper his first year, playing in 10 games and snapping without incident. He also recovered a fumble deep in Baylor territory to set up a touchdown during a game against the Bears. He played another season for the Cowboys before transferring to Northern Iowa to focus on his academics. “I feel extremely honored to be on this team with all of the athletes that have come out of Ankeny,” Morgan said.
Zach Thompson, DL: He was a two-way lineman who made his biggest impact on defense as a junior at Ankeny in 2009, when he made 38 tackles and recovered two fumbles while helping the Hawks to a 10-2 record. Then, as a senior, he started both ways for a team that went 9-4 and reached the Class 4A semifinals. He tied for third on the team with 78 tackles. On offense, he helped the team rack up 209 first downs. He was named to the Elite all-state team. “Zach was a tough kid and a hard worker,” said Fontana. “He was easy to coach.” Thompson went on to play at Minnesota State as a defensive end.
Drew Carlson, LB: He was a three-year starter who racked up 252 career tackles at Ankeny from 2010-12. As a sophomore, he made 59 tackles, including four for losses. In 2011, he placed fourth on the team with 75 tackles and recovered a fumble that he returned for a score. He also saw some action at running back, rushing for 107 yards and three scores. As a senior, he placed second on the team with 118 tackles and had four sacks. On offense, he rushed for 432 yards and nine touchdowns on 63 carries while catching 18 passes for 387 yards and five scores. The Hawks captured the Class 4A state title in their final year as one varsity program, completing a 14-0 season with a 23-17 victory over Cedar Rapids Xavier. It was Ankeny’s only game decided by less than a touchdown. “We knew they’d be the best team that we’ve played since it was the finals,” Carlson said afterwards. “They were going to give it everything they had.” Carlson was named to the all-state second team. He went on to play for Central College, where he earned all-Iowa Conference second-team honors from 2014-16. He earned the Lankelma-Menning Award as the outstanding underclass player in 2014. He was named the Iowa Conference defensive player of the week in 2015 after helping the Dutch to a 27-13 victory over Coe. He made eight tackles, forced a fumble and intercepted two passes that he returned for a total of 18 yards. His father, Luke, was a standout defensive lineman for Ankeny in the early 1980s (see above). “One of my favorite memories is during my first football practice I had made a tackle and afterwards told my dad I wanted to stick to soccer,” Carlson said. “He encouraged me to stick it out a bit longer. Turns out, I ended up playing football 11 more years and made so many friends and memories along the way.”
Brecken Manus, LB: He was Ankeny’s leading tackler for three consecutive seasons from 2018-20, racking up 196.5 tackles during his career. As a sophomore, he made 60 tackles, recovered two fumbles and intercepted a pass. In 2019, he made 59 tackles–including 9.5 for losses–for a team that posted a 7-4 record. He was named to the all-state third team. Then, as a senior, he again led the team with 77.5 tackles–including 44 solo stops–and also recovered two fumbles while helping Ankeny to the state title. He made 12 tackles in the Hawks’ 35-10 victory at Valley. He intercepted a pass that he returned 36 yards for a score in a 45-14 win over Indianola that closed out the regular season. In the second round of the playoffs, Manus had 10 tackles as Ankeny rallied from a 16-14 halftime deficit to beat Cedar Falls, 37-16. He later had 9.5 tackles in the championship game against Southeast Polk. He was selected to the Elite all-state team. “What I remember just as much as winning the state championship is the teams we beat to get there,” Manus said. “Each team we played had beaten us the previous two years, so it was extra special to go on a little revenge tour to eventually win it all. I try and get past those days when I’m at (college), but you can’t help but talk about them when you get home and see friends that were on the team or family that were there to watch.” Manus is now a redshirt freshman at Missouri Western. After sitting out his first season, he played in eight games and contributed 12 tackles this season while helping the Griffons to a 5-6 record. He had a season-high four tackles in a 36-12 loss at Emporia State on Sept. 17. Manus also started on Ankeny’s state championship basketball team in 2020.
Tony Medici, LB: He was a two-way player who helped Ankeny to a combined record of 15-5 in 1990-91. As a junior, he placed second on the team with 102 tackles, including a career-high 18 stops in the Hawks’ first-round playoff loss at Newton. As a fullback on offense, he ran 58 times for 279 yards and four touchdowns. Ankeny opened that season with a 33-14 win over seventh-ranked Valley. “That was one of the games that really stands out in my mind,” Medici said of his career. “It was one week removed from (teammate) Matt Hanke’s (serious brain) injury. There were a lot of emotions going into that game. We were able to play inspired football and get a big win.” In 1991, he led the team with 101 tackles, becoming just the second player in school history to record 100 or more tackles in consecutive seasons. He made 10 or more tackles in seven of the team’s 10 games, including 14 in a 52-33 loss to Newton, when he also ran 13 times for 168 yards and three touchdowns. For the season, he led the Hawks in rushing, finishing with 670 yards and eight scores on 130 carries. He was named to the Elite all-state team after helping his team to a 7-3 mark that included four wins by three points or less. The Hawks defeated five teams with winning records–three of which were playoff qualifiers. “I think this was by far the most exciting season we’ve had,” Pezzetti said after that year. “This schedule was the toughest any Ankeny team has ever played, and we had to be up for every game.” Medici rushed for 62 yards and had 10 tackles in the Hawks’ 25-22 upset over top-ranked Dowling. “It was a great team effort,” Medici said. “There was some good trash talking and a guy or two puking on the field giving all they had. It was another great team win. I was blessed to have played with a bunch of guys with a lot of heart and for a great coaching staff.” At the time, Pezzetti called it the biggest victory of his career. “It was great to beat the No. 1 team in the state,” he said. “I think that game was the turning point for us.” Medici went on to play at Mankato State, where he was the recipient of the Maverick Achievement Award in 1996. “I’m honored to have been chosen for this team as Ankeny has had a good number of pretty good high school players,” he said.
Mat Andriano, DB: He was a hard-hitting safety who also excelled as a punter at Ankeny in 2010-11. As a junior, he placed fifth on the team with 70 tackles. His most memorable stop came in the Class 4A semifinals against Dowling, when he forced a fumble with a devastating hit at the goal line that echoed throughout the UNI-Dome and prevented Dalton Parrott from scoring for the Maroons, who went on to post a 24-21 victory en route to the state title. Andriano also averaged 38.6 yards on 29 punts. He was named to the all-state third team as a punter. In 2011, he hade 59 tackles and tied for the team lead in interceptions with four, two of which he returned for scores. He averaged 38.9 yards on 32 punts. Andriano went on to play for Minnesota State, where he started at defensive back his last two seasons and finished his career with 151 tackles. He also recorded a pair of interceptions and recovered four fumbles. As a senior in 2016, he made a career-high 10 tackles during a game at Augustana (S.D.), then matched that total in the next two games against Southwest Minnesota State and Sioux Falls. He also earned NSIC all-academic honors multiple times.
Jeff Bauer, DB: He played on both sides of the ball for the 1985 Ankeny team that won the conference title and advanced to the playoffs. He was part of a defensive unit that allowed just 11.7 points per game. In a loss to Dowling Catholic in the opening round of the playoffs, Bauer scored on a 6-yard run in the second half to cut the Maroons’ lead to 14-7. Ankeny later added a field goal, but it wasn’t enough as Dowling held on for a 14-10 win. “We just didn’t tackle or block well enough to win,” Pezzetti said at the time. “Yet, it’s great to have your kids play in a game like this. It’s a reward for the season.” Bauer was named to the all-conference first team. He joined the Iowa State program as a walk-on and became a four-year letterwinner for the Cyclones from 1987-90. He scored a touchdown on a fumble recovery during a game against Tulane and had a couple of other recoveries in his career. Bauer later served as a scout for the New York Jets and eventually became an assistant coach at Ankeny under Nelson, helping the Hawks to the Class 4A title in 2020. His son, Jase, was the star quarterback on that squad and is now playing at Central Michigan. His oldest son, Jordan, was also a standout at Ankeny who went on to play at Western Michigan.
Isaiah Kramme, DB: A standout on both sides of the ball, he helped Centennial to back-to-back seven-win seasons in the first two years of the Jaguars’ program. As a junior in 2013, Kramme primarily played quarterback for a team that went 7-4, including a 17-7 win over Ankeny in the first-ever meeting between the two schools. “I’m very proud of this team,” Pezzetti said. “It was a tough situation going to a (new) school that doesn’t have any alumni. Our kids were together all these years (before the split), but I thought they did a very nice job.” Kramme completed 80-of-145 passes for 1,537 yards and 12 touchdowns while rushing for 774 yards and 11 scores on 167 carries. He passed for 236 yards in a 42-17 win at Mason City, setting a single-game school record that stood until this season, when current Centennial quarterback Trenton Smith threw for 246 yards in a victory at Urbandale. However, Kramme still holds the single-season mark for passing yards. In 2014, he sparked the Jaguars to another win over their crosstown rival. Trailing 14-3, Centennial rallied for 21 fourth-quarter points behind Kramme to post a 24-21 triumph over the Hawks. He ignited the comeback with a 70-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Pinegar on the opening play of the final period. He later added scoring runs of 79 and 48 yards, finishing the game with 212 yards on 20 carries. The contest was delayed at the start by a power outage. “The whole build-up to that game, the power outage and the comeback made it very memorable from start to finish,” Kramme said. The Jaguars went on to finish with a 7-3 record. “We had some very good players, and we asked them to do an awful lot,” Pezzetti said. “Several of them played both sides of the ball.” Kramme completed 59-of-118 passes for 1,051 yards and eight scores. He was also the team’s leading rusher with 1,071 yards and 14 touchdowns on 145 carries. He also had 20 tackles on defense and returned a pick for a touchdown in a 52-13 win over Roosevelt. He was named to the all-state first team as a defensive back. Kramme initially accepted an offer from Northern Iowa to pay for 75 percent of his education, but he then changed his mind and joined Iowa’s program as a preferred walk-on. He played briefly for the Hawkeyes.
Sam Pickard, DB: After joining Ankeny’s team as a transfer from North Polk for his senior season in 2012, he helped the Hawks to the Class 4A state title. “It feels great,” he said at the time. “It’s been my biggest dream since I’ve grown up through junior football along with all these guys. It means the world to us.” Pickard was one of the team’s most versatile players. He made 45 tackles and had three interceptions on defense, including a pick in the championship game. As a receiver on offense, he caught 22 passes for 421 yards and five touchdowns while also rushing 10 times for 145 yards and three scores. In a win over Marshalltown, he had three catches for 110 yards and a touchdown. He contributed on special teams as well, serving as the team’s primary kick returner throughout the season. He returned nine kickoffs for a 27.6 average and 17 punts for a 10.9 average. He was named to the all-state second team. As a sophomore at North Polk in 2010, he helped the Comets to a 10-4 record and a runner-up finish in Class 2A. He made 31.5 tackles and intercepted two passes, including one that he returned for a touchdown. As a junior, he played all over the field for a team that posted a 9-2 record. He made 28.5 tackles and recovered two fumbles. He caught 22 passes for 389 yards and two touchdowns while rushing 13 times for 106 yards and five scores. He also returned six kicks for touchdowns–four on kickoffs and two on punts. He even served as the team’s punter. Pickard went on to play for Ellsworth Community College.
Shane Spooner, P: He was a great all-around player at Ankeny from 2002-04 who also punted in his final two seasons. As a sophomore, he started at fullback and rushed for 307 yards and three touchdowns on 58 carries. In 2003, he rushed for 539 yards and six scores on 77 carries while also contributing six super blocks. As a linebacker on defense, he placed fifth on the team with 41 tackles. He averaged 38.2 yards on nine punts for a team that went 11-1 and seldom had to punt. As a senior, he rushed for 594 yards and 10 touchdowns on 125 carries. He placed fourth on the team with 66 tackles. He averaged 35.7 yards on 27 punts and had four of them downed inside the 10-yard line. Spooner was one of the best all-around athletes in Ankeny’s history. He won a state wrestling title as a heavyweight in 2004 and was earlier named to the Ankeny Fanatic all-time Ankeny wrestling team. He was also a standout in baseball and track. In 2006, he was named the No. 43 greatest athlete in Ankeny High School history by the Ankeny Register & Press Citizen. He went on to play football at Iowa Central, where he was the starting fullback. He later had a tryout with the Iowa Barnstormers of the Arena Football League.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: The Ankeny Fanatic teams were selected by publisher Dan Holm, who consulted with former and current coaches before making his picks.)
