Jags, Hawks likely to host doubleheader in first round of Class 5A football playoffs

Ankeny quarterback Luke Anderson tries to elude the pass rush of Ankeny Centennial’s Mitchell Grider during the Jaguars’ 31-10 victory on Aug. 30 at Ankeny Stadium. Both Ankeny and Centennial are expected to host games in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs after closing out the regular season on Friday with wins. Anderson did not start in the Hawks’ 56-0 triumph over Cedar Rapids Washington, but will likely return to the lineup on Friday. (Photo by Evan Reiter)

It appears likely that Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial will host a doubleheader in the opening round of the Class 5A football playoffs.

Both teams closed out the regular season on Friday with impressive victories. The Jaguars (7-2) rolled to a 49-7 win over visiting Urbandale, while the Hawks (5-4) defeated Cedar Rapids Washington, 56-0, in a game that started on Thursday at Kingston Stadium before being suspended due to lightning.

Ankeny has an RPI of .5931 in the final rankings by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. Centennial has an RPI of .5916, but moved ahead of the Hawks and into the No. 7 spot based on its head-to-head victory on Aug. 30.

Centennial will host No. 10 Iowa City High (6-3) and No. 8 Ankeny will host No. 9 Linn-Mar (Marion) (7-2) on Friday–if the playoff pairings follow the RPI standings. The official pairings will be announced at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

There are no remaining unbeaten teams in Class 5A after Bettendorf lost to Iowa City High, 42-23, on Friday. That loss dropped the Bulldogs (8-1) from No. 1 to No. 3 in the final rankings.