• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

  • Home
  • About
    • Support Us
  • News
    • Podcast
  • Hawks
    • Boys’ Soccer
      • Roster
      • Schedule
    • Girls’ Soccer
      • Roster
      • Schedule
    • Girls’ Tennis
      • Roster
      • Schedule
    • Baseball
      • Roster
      • Schedule
    • Softball
      • Roster
      • Schedule
  • Jaguars
    • Boys’ Soccer
      • Roster
      • Schedule
    • Girls’ Soccer
      • Roster
      • Schedule
    • Girls’ Tennis
      • Roster
      • Schedule
    • Baseball
      • Roster
      • Schedule
    • Softball
      • Roster
      • Schedule

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Devon Akers, Ankeny football

August 28, 2023 by Dan Holm

Ankeny receiver Devon Akers catches a pass during Friday’s season opener against Ankeny Centennial. Akers had three receptions for 90 yards as the Hawks rallied from a 17-0 deficit to post a 39-38 victory in double overtime. He also caught the game-winning two-point conversion. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)

Senior receiver Devon Akers helped the Ankeny football team to a 39-38 victory over Ankeny Centennial in double overtime on Friday at Ankeny Stadium.

Akers caught a pass from Luke Anderson for the game-winning two-point conversion. He finished with three receptions for 90 yards.

Here is some inside info on Akers:

Congratulations on the win. Did you do anything special to celebrate afterwards?

Thank you! I didn’t do anything too special, just grabbed some food and hung out with some teammates for a while.

You told me after the game that your team messed up the final play. So did you just kind of improvise your route on that play?

Yeah, I improvised a bit. I had to get to the spot a bit quicker than I otherwise would have so it timed up right.

Devon Akers hauls in the 2-point pass and @AnkenyHawkFB wins a thriller, 39-38, in 2 OTs. pic.twitter.com/dARGC7FSIN

— ANKENY FANATIC (@AnkenyFanatic) August 26, 2023

What was going through your mind when your team fell behind, 17-0, in the first quarter?

With the dudes we have on our team and how much of the game was left, I knew we were still well in it.

What was the key to your team’s comeback?

We just knew the task at hand, and we did everything we could to complete it. I think it was mostly that we just started playing like ourselves.

How important was that touchdown drive right before halftime that cut Centennial’s lead to 24-14?

That touchdown drive was massive. Our coaches have prepared us for moments like that all year with 2-minute drills and no-huddle work. I was hoping for at least a field goal to cut it to a two-possession game but a touchdown was huge, especially for momentum going into halftime.

Ankeny receiver Devon Akers (left) congratulates quarterback Luke Anderson after Friday’s game. Anderson passed for 221 yards and two touchdowns in his first varsity start. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)

Anderson went on to pass for 221 yards and two touchdowns in his first varsity start. What did you think of his performance, and were you confident going into the game that he could get the job done?

Luke is my boy. He’s been putting in the work all summer, and I know what he’s capable of and he came out and showed that. To do what he did in his first varsity start being in such a high-pressure game is very impressive.

That was an unforgettable win for your coach, Jeff Bauer, in his debut with the program. Do you think the win shows that he was the right man for the job?

I definitely think so. He was one of the reasons we all wanted it so bad. We couldn’t give him an “L” in his first game as head coach.

Ankeny senior Devon Akers shares a moment with coach Jeff Bauer following Friday’s game. The Hawks gave Bauer an unforgettable win in his coaching debut. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)

Coach Bauer told me before the season started that he thought you had a chip on your shoulder after missing most of last season due to an injury. Did you feel like you had something to prove this year?

For sure. My motivation has always been my teammates and coaches and people other than me, but missing all the time I did last year definitely motivates me to show people what I’m capable of.

Your team will host No. 1 Southeast Polk, the two-time defending Class 5A state champion, on Friday. What will it take to knock off the Rams?

They have a phenomenal team over there so we’re going to have to be at our best, which I know we can be. If we can cut down some mistakes and iron some things out, I think we can put ourselves in a good position to win.

Ankeny’s Devon Akers (second from right) is shown here with the Hawks’ 4×100 relay team after their third-place finish in the Class 4A state track meet last spring at Drake Stadium. Akers helped Ankeny to a runner-up finish overall in Class 4A. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)

You also compete in basketball and track. Which sport, if any, are you planning to play in college?

I plan on playing football in college if the right opportunity comes.

Have you looked at any schools yet, and what are you planning to study?

I have been looking at some schools for sure. It’s just been a bit slower for me with my lack of film from my injury last year. I don’t know exactly what I plan on studying yet, but it will most likely be something on the business side.

Filed Under: Football, Hawks Tagged With: Devon Akers, Featured

Primary Sidebar

Support Ankeny Fanatic

Recent Posts

  • ONE OF A KIND: Smith becomes city of Ankeny’s first-ever state tennis champion
  • ‘We just can’t take anything for granted’: Jaguars rout Roosevelt, advance to state
  • Smith tops Holland, will play Clinton’s Haan for Class 2A singles championship
  • ‘We just needed a little luck’: Hawkettes earn another trip to state on Macke’s goal
  • Wahlberg’s golden goal sends Hawks back to state tourney in dramatic fashion

Find Us on Facebook

Ankeny Fanatic

Archives

  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017

Categories

  • Hawks
    • Fall
      • Boys’ Cross Country
      • Boys’ Golf
      • Football
      • Girls’ Cross Country
      • Girls’ Swimming
      • Volleyball
    • Spring
      • Boys’ Soccer
      • Boys’ Tennis
      • Boys’ Track
      • Girls’ Golf
      • Girls’ Soccer
      • Girls’ Tennis
      • Girls’ Track
    • Summer
      • Baseball
      • Softball
        • Roster
    • Winter
      • Boys’ Basketball
      • Boys’ Bowling
      • Boys’ Swimming
      • Girls’ Basketball
      • Girls’ Bowling
      • Boys’ Wrestling
  • Jaguars
    • Fall
      • Boys’ Cross Country
      • Boys’ Golf
      • Football
      • Girls’ Cross Country
      • Girls’ Swimming
      • Volleyball
    • Spring
      • Boys’ Soccer
      • Boys’ Tennis
      • Boys’ Track
      • Girls’ Golf
      • Girls’ Soccer
      • Girls’ Tennis
      • Girls’ Track
    • Summer
      • Baseball
      • Softball
    • Winter
      • Boys’ Basketball
      • Girls’ Basketball
      • Wrestling
  • Top Sports Stories
    • Football
    • Volleyball
  • Baseball
  • Softball

© 2025 Ankeny Fanatic. All rights reserved.