Ankeny Fanatic

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Football

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Jase Bauer, Ankeny football

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Senior quarterback Jase Bauer played a starring role as the Ankeny football team routed top-ranked Southeast Polk, 42-14, in the Class 4A championship game on Friday at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. He accounted for 259 total yards and three touchdowns in the win, and was named Player of the Game by the Iowa High School Sports Network. Bauer completed … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Jase Bauer, Ankeny football

KINGS OF THE DOME: Ankeny soars to Class 4A crown with rout over Rams

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When Arland Bruce IV transferred to Ankeny earlier this fall, the Iowa recruit didn't know he was joining a state championship football squad. "I knew the talent we had was pretty scary," Bruce said. "But I really didn't look too far into it. I was just worried about trying to get onto the field with the guys." Bruce sat out the first five games of the … [Read more...] about KINGS OF THE DOME: Ankeny soars to Class 4A crown with rout over Rams

HAIL TO THE VICTORS!

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The trophy case at Ankeny High School might be getting a little crowded. For the third time since March, Ankeny came away with a state championship trophy on Friday night--this time courtesy of the football team. The second-ranked Hawks rolled to a 42-14 victory over No. 1 Southeast Polk in the Class 4A title game at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. It's … [Read more...] about HAIL TO THE VICTORS!

Unstoppable force vs. Immovable object? Here is Fanatic’s prediction

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Well, my predictions for last week's Class 4A semifinals were right on the mark, so I'm going to tempt fate and try to make another good call. So here we go. Here's my analysis of Friday's state championship game at the UNI-Dome: Southeast Polk (10-0) vs. Ankeny (10-1): This is the matchup that many people have wanted to see all season long, because … [Read more...] about Unstoppable force vs. Immovable object? Here is Fanatic’s prediction

‘I grew up with all of those kids’: Ankeny’s Cox to face former classmates in 4A final

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Keeping his emotions in check will be a challenge for Ankeny defensive back Cooper Cox during Friday's Class 4A championship game. Cox attended the Southeast Polk school district before moving to Ankeny prior to his freshman year. "I grew up with all of those kids," Cox said. "I remember playing football with all of them when I was in fourth, fifth and … [Read more...] about ‘I grew up with all of those kids’: Ankeny’s Cox to face former classmates in 4A final

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Arland Bruce IV, Ankeny football

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Senior Arland Bruce IV has played a huge role in helping the Ankeny football team advance to the Class 4A championship game. On Friday, he accounted for 133 total yards and also sealed the victory with an interception in the second overtime as the Hawks dethroned seven-time defending state champion Dowling Catholic, 31-24, in the semifinals at the … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Arland Bruce IV, Ankeny football

‘It’s an amazing feeling’: Hawks outlast Dowling, will play S.E. Polk for 4A crown

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Dowling Catholic's stranglehold on the Class 4A championship trophy had to come to an end sometime. It finally did on Friday the 13th. Jase Bauer ran for the go-ahead touchdown in the second overtime, then Arland Bruce IV sealed the victory with an interception as the second-ranked Ankeny football team outlasted No. 3 Dowling, 31-24, in the Class 4A … [Read more...] about ‘It’s an amazing feeling’: Hawks outlast Dowling, will play S.E. Polk for 4A crown

THE END OF A DYNASTY: Hawks dethrone 7-time state champions

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Arland Bruce IV didn't grow up in Ankeny, but he knows all about Dowling Catholic's recent dominance of the Class 4A football landscape. Bruce intercepted a pass on Dowling's first play in the second overtime to give the second-ranked Hawks a thrilling 31-24 victory in the Class 4A semifinals on Friday night at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. The loss ended … [Read more...] about THE END OF A DYNASTY: Hawks dethrone 7-time state champions

Can Hawks dethrone Dowling? Here are Ankeny Fanatic’s semifinal predictions

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Let's get it on. The Class 4A semifinals get under way at the UNI-Dome in less than 24 hours. Three of the four remaining teams are from the Central Iowa Metropolitan League, setting up the (very likely) possibility of an all-CIML final next Friday. Can Pleasant Valley pull off an upset against top-ranked Southeast Polk? Will Dowling Catholic … [Read more...] about Can Hawks dethrone Dowling? Here are Ankeny Fanatic’s semifinal predictions

Bruce explodes for IV touchdowns, leads No. 2 Ankeny to the UNI-Dome

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Ankeny quarterback Jase Bauer has played with and against a lot of great athletes during his high school football career. He isn't sure if he's seen anyone like Arland Bruce IV. "He's just a dude," Bauer said of the Iowa recruit. "I mean, he's one of the best players I've ever seen. The dude can just flat-out play. When the play is not there, he's … [Read more...] about Bruce explodes for IV touchdowns, leads No. 2 Ankeny to the UNI-Dome

DOMEWARD BOUND: Hawks ride Bruce past Waukee, into Class 4A semifinals

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Next stop: the UNI-Dome. The second-ranked Ankeny football team earned a trip to the Class 4A semifinals with a 28-7 victory at No. 4 Waukee on Friday. The Hawks (9-1) won their eighth straight game since dropping a 21-17 decision at Waukee (7-3) on Sept. 4. "I'm just happy for the kids," said Ankeny coach Rick Nelson. "I can't say enough about them. … [Read more...] about DOMEWARD BOUND: Hawks ride Bruce past Waukee, into Class 4A semifinals

‘We can definitely smell it’: Hawks top Cedar Falls, move closer to semifinals

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A trip to the UNI-Dome is now just one win away for the Ankeny football team. The second-ranked Hawks advanced to the Class 4A quarterfinals for the second straight year with a 37-16 victory over visiting Cedar Falls on Friday. They scored the final 29 points of the game to erase a 16-8 deficit. "We've been anxious these last couple of weeks," … [Read more...] about ‘We can definitely smell it’: Hawks top Cedar Falls, move closer to semifinals

Third-round matchups: Hawks to host Cedar Falls, Jaguars to visit S.E. Polk

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The pairings are now set for the third round of the Class 4A football playoffs. There won't be a Jag-Hawk rematch. Second-ranked Ankeny (7-1) will host Cedar Falls (5-2) on Friday at 7 p.m. at Ankeny Stadium. It will be a rematch of a 2019 regular-season game that was won by the Tigers, 28-27, at the UNI-Dome. While the Hawks are riding a six-game … [Read more...] about Third-round matchups: Hawks to host Cedar Falls, Jaguars to visit S.E. Polk

KA-BOOM! Kadolph runs for 5 TDs as Hawks throttle Council Bluffs Jefferson

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After a week off, the Ankeny football team was ready for the start of the Class 4A playoffs. The second-ranked Hawks exploded for 28 points in both the second and third quarters and rolled to a 70-0 victory over visiting Council Bluffs Jefferson in a second-round game on Friday. "We knew we had to play well this week since we had a (bye) last week," … [Read more...] about KA-BOOM! Kadolph runs for 5 TDs as Hawks throttle Council Bluffs Jefferson