Ankeny Fanatic

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Football

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

Hawks, Jaguars receive first-round byes in Class 4A football playoffs

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The Ankeny football team was expected to receive a bye in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs. It turns out that Ankeny Centennial will get one, too. Both squads will get a week off before making their postseason debut in the second round of the playoffs on Friday, Oct. 23. The second-ranked Hawks (6-1) and Jaguars (1-5) are among the 28 teams … [Read more...] about Hawks, Jaguars receive first-round byes in Class 4A football playoffs

Explosive plays help No. 2 Hawks to huge victory over Indianola in finale

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Big plays were the name of the game on Friday in Ankeny as the second-ranked Hawks squared off with the Indianola Indians (3-4). Even in a blowout 45-14 win for Ankeny, both teams saw big plays throughout the night, especially early on. “We have really good players,” Ankeny coach Rick Nelson said. “Who’s fooling themselves? You’re not going to win if … [Read more...] about Explosive plays help No. 2 Hawks to huge victory over Indianola in finale

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Reid Johnson, Ankeny football

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Sophomore Reid Johnson is a member of the second-ranked Ankeny football team. He has helped the Hawks to a 5-1 record. On Sept. 11, Johnson started at running back in place of injured teammate Colin Kadolph and helped Ankeny to a 52-18 victory at Fort Dodge. He ran 31 times for 149 yards and one touchdown. "Reid has been a varsity player on special … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Reid Johnson, Ankeny football

Bruce makes impressive debut as Hawks dismantle Johnston in 49-0 victory

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The Ankeny football team was already considered a threat to win the Class 4A state title. Now, the Hawks may have emerged as the favorites. The addition of heralded transfer Arland Bruce IV to a potent offense makes third-ranked Ankeny a scary opponent in the upcoming playoffs. On Friday, the Hawks demonstrated all of their weapons in a 49-0 … [Read more...] about Bruce makes impressive debut as Hawks dismantle Johnston in 49-0 victory

‘We’re nobody to mess around with’: Hawks rout Valley for huge statement

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When the Ankeny football team lost a playoff game at Valley two years ago, the Hawks were a young squad that had yet to fully realize its potential. On Friday, Ankeny returned to Valley Stadium with a veteran roster that was ready for the moment. Jase Bauer passed for 250 yards and five touchdowns as the third-ranked Hawks rolled to a 35-10 victory … [Read more...] about ‘We’re nobody to mess around with’: Hawks rout Valley for huge statement

Brecht, Hansen named Great American Rivalry Series Scholar Athletes

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Seniors Brody Brecht of Ankeny and Zach Hansen of Ankeny Centennial have been named Great American Rivalry Series Scholar Athletes for 2020. Recipients of the GARS Scholar Athlete Award are chosen annually as part of the Great American Rivalry Series which will be activating the program at its 1,000th Rivalry game this fall. Scholar Athlete Award winners … [Read more...] about Brecht, Hansen named Great American Rivalry Series Scholar Athletes

Bauer, Brecht lead the way as Hawks pummel Council Bluffs Jefferson

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It tells you something about the talent on the Ankeny football team that Council Bluffs Jefferson coach Brant Anderson was actually pleased by his squad's performance in a 68-0 loss to the fourth-ranked Hawks on Friday at Wickersham Stadium. “Shockingly enough, we made a few strides,” Anderson told The Daily Nonpareil afterwards. “We were able to get a … [Read more...] about Bauer, Brecht lead the way as Hawks pummel Council Bluffs Jefferson

With a ‘chip on our shoulder’, Hawks shut down Fort Dodge in the rain

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On a rainy night at Dodger Stadium, the Ankeny football team rediscovered its mojo. One week after suffering a heartbreaking loss at Waukee, the sixth-ranked Hawks overcame the wet conditions on Friday to post a 52-18 victory over No. 10 Fort Dodge, dominating the game on both sides of the ball. "We definitely came out with a little bit of a chip on … [Read more...] about With a ‘chip on our shoulder’, Hawks shut down Fort Dodge in the rain

Waukee drives 91 yards for go-ahead TD, posts 21-17 victory over Ankeny

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(Story by David Klockenga) The 10th-ranked Waukee football team scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns and rallied for a 21-17 victory over No. 2 Ankeny on Friday at Waukee Stadium. Ankeny had built a 17-7 lead with two third-quarter touchdowns, but the Hawks could not stop Waukee on its last two drives, giving up the go-ahead score with 7.6 seconds … [Read more...] about Waukee drives 91 yards for go-ahead TD, posts 21-17 victory over Ankeny