Ankeny Fanatic

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Football

HAPPY HOMECOMING: Ankeny bounces back from loss, dominates Little Cyclones

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(Story by Isaiah Pine) After a disappointing loss to second-ranked Johnston a week ago, the No. 3 Ankeny football team looked to bounce back against Ames in its homecoming game on Friday. And that's exactly what the Hawks did, rolling to a 56-7 victory. Devan Goode ran for a pair of touchdowns in the first half, while Caleb Alhussaini ran for one … [Read more...] about HAPPY HOMECOMING: Ankeny bounces back from loss, dominates Little Cyclones

Machan leads the way as No. 3 Hawks roll past Ames for 56-7 homecoming victory

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There was no shortage of big plays for the Ankeny football team on Friday night. The third-ranked Hawks scored seven touchdowns in the first 16 minutes of the game and went on to post a 56-7 homecoming victory over Ames at Ankeny Stadium. Ankeny (6-1) bounced back from a 27-0 loss at No. 2 Johnston a week ago. Quarterback Mason Machan was intercepted … [Read more...] about Machan leads the way as No. 3 Hawks roll past Ames for 56-7 homecoming victory

Ankeny is No. 3, Centennial No. 23 in first Class 5A RPI football rankings from IHSAA

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The Ankeny football team is No. 3 in Class 5A in the first RPI rankings of the season from the Iowa High School Athletic Association. Southeast Polk (6-0), the lone remaining unbeaten team, is No. 1 with an RPI of .7078. The Rams are just ahead of No. 2 Johnston (5-1), which has an RPI of .7063 after handing Ankeny its first loss, 27-0, on Friday. The … [Read more...] about Ankeny is No. 3, Centennial No. 23 in first Class 5A RPI football rankings from IHSAA

‘They made a lot of plays’: Dragons pick off 5 passes in 27-0 victory over Ankeny

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It's back to the drawing board for the Ankeny football team. After cruising through the first five weeks of the season, the Hawks suffered a humbling defeat on Friday, dropping a 27-0 decision at Johnston in a showdown between two of the top squads in Class 5A. "Our coach always says, 'Good times make weak people,'" said Ankeny linebacker Rowan Doak. … [Read more...] about ‘They made a lot of plays’: Dragons pick off 5 passes in 27-0 victory over Ankeny

‘We need to learn lessons from this’: Hawks suffer first shutout loss since 2018

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(Story by Dom Tornabane) The Johnston football team made a huge statement on Friday night. The Dragons intercepted five passes, held visiting Ankeny to just 75 yards of total offense and rolled to a 27-0 victory over the previously unbeaten Hawks. Ankeny was held scoreless for the first time since the 2018 season, when the Hawks lost to Dowling … [Read more...] about ‘We need to learn lessons from this’: Hawks suffer first shutout loss since 2018

‘The offense kept answering for us’: Hawks outlast Sioux City East in shootout, 35-25

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The Ankeny football team passed its biggest test of the season thus far. The visiting Hawks got a pair of interceptions from Zane McAnelly and Dawson Whitinger in the second half and held off Sioux City East, 35-25, in a battle of unbeaten squads on Friday at Elwood Olsen Stadium. "It was a tough one," said Ankeny coach Jeff Bauer. "It was a strange … [Read more...] about ‘The offense kept answering for us’: Hawks outlast Sioux City East in shootout, 35-25

‘We’re a talented team’: Hawks dominate every facet of game in 59-0 rivalry victory

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Perhaps nobody enjoyed the Ankeny football team's dominant performance on Friday night more than injured junior offensive lineman Layne Hearne. Hearne watched from the sidelines in a motorized wheelchair as the Hawks rolled to a 59-0 win over Ankeny Centennial in the annual crosstown showdown at Ankeny Stadium. It was the largest margin of victory in the … [Read more...] about ‘We’re a talented team’: Hawks dominate every facet of game in 59-0 rivalry victory

‘We’ve got some playmakers’: Hawks overcome slow start, roll past Roosevelt

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Penalties and miscues plagued the Ankeny football team during the first two drives of Friday night's showdown against Des Moines Roosevelt at Mediacom Stadium. But the Hawks quickly left their slow start in the rear view mirror and rattled off 43 unanswered points in a 43-7 blowout victory to remain undefeated at 3-0 heading … [Read more...] about ‘We’ve got some playmakers’: Hawks overcome slow start, roll past Roosevelt

‘I knew what I could do’: Cooper catches 2 TD passes, rallies Hawks past Waukee

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Jamello Cooper didn't see a lot of playing time a year ago as the Ankeny football team relied heavily on senior receivers Andrew Brandhorst and Owen Fischer. Now that Cooper has taken over a starting position, the 5-foot-8, 175-pound junior is making the most of his opportunity. Cooper caught a pair of touchdown passes in the second half as the Hawks … [Read more...] about ‘I knew what I could do’: Cooper catches 2 TD passes, rallies Hawks past Waukee

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Dawson Whitinger, Ankeny football

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Senior linebacker and running back Dawson Whitinger helped lead the Ankeny football team to a 28-20 victory at Waukee Northwest in its season opener on Friday. He ran five times for 72 yards, made 5.5 tackles and also had a huge interception as the Hawks avenged last year's loss to the Wolves. Whitinger picked off a pass from Northwest quarterback Mack … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Dawson Whitinger, Ankeny football

‘We were hungry for this’: Hawks build big lead, then hold off NW for huge road win

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Even if its starting lineup is drastically different than a year ago, the Ankeny football team still remembers the heartbreak and the seeding side effects of dropping its 2025 season opener at home against Waukee Northwest. The Hawks got their payback during Friday night’s season opener at Northwest. A stout Ankeny … [Read more...] about ‘We were hungry for this’: Hawks build big lead, then hold off NW for huge road win

Ankeny football team reloads around 4 returning starters, influx of transfers

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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 … [Read more...] about Ankeny football team reloads around 4 returning starters, influx of transfers

Several Jaguars sign letters of intent along with Ankeny’s Breitbach, Fischer

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Several more football players from Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial have signed letters of intent to play at the next level. Centennial's Kade Muehring and Carter Schutty are headed to Wartburg College along with teammate Nash Targgart. Houston Luce and Gavin Matheny have signed with Grand View, Kane Brooks has committed to Minnesota State, and Cameron … [Read more...] about Several Jaguars sign letters of intent along with Ankeny’s Breitbach, Fischer

Ankeny’s Frazee commits to play football at Iowa Western Community College

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Ankeny defensive back Daniel Frazee is headed to the Bluffs. The 5-foot-11, 170-pound senior has verbally committed to play football next fall at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs. "I looked at schools like Grand View, Mount Mercy, Morningside and Iowa Central before making my decision," said Frazee. "It was a very tough decision, but I … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Frazee commits to play football at Iowa Western Community College

‘10000% committed!!!’: Ankeny all-stater Larmie to play football at Iowa Western

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All-state running back Daniel Larmie of Ankeny didn't let his recruiting battle drag on for very long once the calendar turned to 2026. The senior announced his future plans via social media on New Year's Day, when he verbally committed to play football at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs. "10000% committed!!!" Larmie tweeted. "Journey … [Read more...] about ‘10000% committed!!!’: Ankeny all-stater Larmie to play football at Iowa Western

‘Something just clicked’: Ankeny lineman Liechti flips commitment to Grizzlies

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Ankeny offensive lineman Owen Liechti has signed a letter of intent to play at the University of Montana, one of the top programs in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision. Liechti flipped to the Grizzlies after originally committing to Columbia University of the Ivy League. "(Columbia) was a great opportunity, and I’m grateful for the … [Read more...] about ‘Something just clicked’: Ankeny lineman Liechti flips commitment to Grizzlies

Clark, Larmie, Morgan, McIntire, Whitinger, Dieken-Keahey earn IFCA all-state honors

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Ankeny defensive back La'Marious Clark has been named to the Class 5A all-state first team for the second year in a row by the Iowa Football Coaches Association. Clark, a senior, was joined on the first team by Ankeny running back Daniel Larmie. Larmie, a senior, was a second-team pick last year. Two Ankeny Centennial seniors also earned first-team … [Read more...] about Clark, Larmie, Morgan, McIntire, Whitinger, Dieken-Keahey earn IFCA all-state honors

Repeat picks Larmie, Clark, Whitinger among 10 Hawks on all-district first team

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Senior running back Daniel Larmie has been named to the all-district first team for the third consecutive year, while senior defensive back La'Marious Clark and junior linebacker Dawson Whitinger were both repeat picks after leading the Ankeny football team to a 7-3 record this season. The Hawks placed seven more players on the first team, including … [Read more...] about Repeat picks Larmie, Clark, Whitinger among 10 Hawks on all-district first team