On paper, the Ankeny football team appeared to be facing a rebuilding season after suffering heavy losses to graduation last spring.
Ankeny coach Jeff Bauer is hoping that isn’t the case.
“We only have four starters back, so there’s not a lot of people thinking we are going to be all that,” said Bauer. “But there’s a lot of young talent on this team that I think will prove some people wrong.”
The Hawks posted a 7-3 record last season. They earned a No. 5 seed for the Class 5A playoffs before falling to Southeast Polk, 21-14, in the opening round.
Ankeny returns four starters from a defensive unit that posted two shutouts and allowed 15 or fewer points in three other games. They are senior linebackers Dawson Whitinger and Hunter Minner, senior defensive back Logan Wirtz and junior defensive back Grant Fischer.
Whitinger placed second among the Hawks with 75 tackles, including 12 for losses and four sacks. He forced three fumbles and recovered another, and he returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown.
Whitinger also ran 37 yards for a score in Ankeny’s 29-15 win over rival Ankeny Centennial. He was a repeat pick to the Class 5A all-state second team and to the all-district first team.
Minner was also a first-team all-district pick after recording 36 tackles. The Indiana State baseball recruit played on the defensive line as a junior, but will join Whitinger on the linebacking crew this fall.
Fischer contributed 28 tackles, seven passes defensed and two interceptions as a sophomore. He received all-district honorable mention.
Wirtz had 25 tackles a year ago, when he started until he suffered an injury. He will be the strong safety.
“The practices are going really well,” Bauer said. “We’re excited. The guys are working hard, and our execution is pretty good.”
Ankeny has been strengthened by the addition of some transfers, including seniors Nolan Bennett, Rowan Doak and Devan Goode. Those three helped Centennial to a 5-5 mark last season.
Bennett, a cornerback, made 58 tackles for the Jaguars. He earned all-district honorable mention.
Doak was selected to the all-district second team after recording 49 tackles. He will play linebacker.
“We’ve got six guys who have played a lot, and they’re all on defense,” Bauer said.
Doak also battled for the starting quarterback job before senior Mason Machan won the position. Machan completed 3-of-4 passes for 41 yards as a backup last year.
“It was a close battle, but Mason just pulled away in July,” Bauer said. “He’s a football junkie, and he’s worked so hard since last year. I told Rowan if he had been competing against the Mason from last year, he’d be our starting quarterback. But Mason has just made himself that much better, and that’s the kind of kid he is.”
Goode, a running back, could make an immediate impact in the backfield. He joined Doak on the all-district second team.
Goode ran 41 times for 292 yards and two touchdowns as a junior. He caught seven passes for 63 yards and a score, and he also averaged 17.3 yards on 12 kick returns.
“He’ll get some touches,” Bauer said.
Senior tight end Garrett Bauer is expected to play a major role in the passing game. Junior receivers Jamello Cooper, Gavin Hanfelt and Quin Somers will also provide targets for Machan along with sophomore DJ Tait.
“Garrett is solid, he’s fast, and he’s physical,” Bauer said. “And our receivers are going to shock a lot of people. They’re all young, but we’re excited about them.”
Junior Jack Aubrey was expected to anchor the offensive line after earning second-team all-district honors a year ago. But he injured his shoulder in the offseason and is out for the year after undergoing surgery.
The Hawks will also be without junior Layne Hearne, who suffered a broken neck while competing in a wrestling tournament in May. He is currently rehabilitating at On With Life, but has been attending practice every day.
“He’s an inspiration to all of us,” Bauer said.
The offensive line has been retooled around center Dalton Elliott. Cole White, who has gained about 50 pounds since last season, and Tanner Ruby, a transfer from Ballard (Huxley), will be among the other starters.
“We scrimmaged Valley (last week), and I thought our line held their own against them pretty well,” Bauer said.
There are no concerns about Ankeny’s kicking game. Senior Canden Ganahl is back after making 28-of-34 PATs and 4-of-5 field goals last year.
“His leg is phenomenal,” Bauer said. “He put a couple through the goalposts on the kickoffs the other day, and he also made a 57-yard field goal into the wind. He’ll find himself playing at the next level at a pretty good school, I bet.”
Ankeny will open the season on Friday with a huge test. The Hawks will travel to Waukee Northwest for a showdown against the Wolves at 7 p.m.
Northwest boasts one of the state’s best quarterbacks in Mack Heitland, who passed for nearly 3,000 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2025.
“Obviously, the strength of their team is the offense, and for us it’s obviously the defense,” Bauer said. “It should be a heck of a battle.”