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Football

Jaguars move up to 12th, Ankeny falls to 15th in latest 5A RPI football rankings

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Ankeny Centennial moved up two spots to No. 12 in the latest Class 5A RPI football rankings, while Ankeny dropped three spots to No. 15 heading into the final two weeks of the regular season. The Jaguars (5-2) rolled to a 45-3 victory over Des Moines Roosevelt on Friday and appear to be in good position to make the 16-team playoff field. They will play at … [Read more...] about Jaguars move up to 12th, Ankeny falls to 15th in latest 5A RPI football rankings

‘We have our work cut out for us’: Hawks fall to 3-4 with loss at Iowa City Liberty

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The margin for error has been eliminated for the Ankeny football team. Following Friday's 28-20 loss at second-ranked Iowa City Liberty, the No. 12 Hawks are now 3-4 on the season and could drop out of the top 16 in the Class 5A RPI rankings this week. Ankeny will likely need to win its final two games against No. 4 Valley (6-1) and Cedar Rapids … [Read more...] about ‘We have our work cut out for us’: Hawks fall to 3-4 with loss at Iowa City Liberty

Ankeny is 12th, Centennial 14th in Class 5A in initial RPI football rankings from IHSAA

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The initial RPI rankings for Class 5A football were announced on Monday by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. Ankeny is 12th with an RPI of .5468. The Hawks (3-3) are ranked ahead of six teams with better records, including No. 14 Ankeny Centennial (4-2). Ankeny boasts a strong strength of schedule. Its opponents have combined for a 33-21 … [Read more...] about Ankeny is 12th, Centennial 14th in Class 5A in initial RPI football rankings from IHSAA

Hawks even record, continue push for playoff bid with 35-16 win over C.R. Prairie

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Regardless of gold jerseys or white jerseys, one of two Hawk teams was bound to exit Ankeny Stadium on Friday with a much-needed victory to keep its playoff hopes alive. And in the end, it was the Ankeny Hawks who soared past the visiting Cedar Rapids Prairie Hawks, 35-16, to improve to 3-3 on the season. “We needed (the … [Read more...] about Hawks even record, continue push for playoff bid with 35-16 win over C.R. Prairie

Henkes, Hawks run past Iowa City West for 38-22 win, keep playoff hopes alive

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Caden Henkes and the Ankeny football team got a much-needed win on Friday night. Henkes ran for two touchdowns in the first half and the Hawks went on to beat visiting Iowa City West, 38-22, in their district opener. The homecoming victory raised Ankeny's record to 2-3, keeping its playoff hopes alive. "We needed that one," said Ankeny coach Jeff … [Read more...] about Henkes, Hawks run past Iowa City West for 38-22 win, keep playoff hopes alive

‘Now our backs are against the wall’: Hawks drop to 1-3 with loss at Johnston

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) After coming off a run to the Class 5A state championship game last season, the Ankeny Hawks returned plenty of talent to ensure they’d undoubtedly be contenders for the title that slipped through their fingers. But now the Hawks are battling to keep any postseason hopes alive. A 24-7 road loss against the Johnston … [Read more...] about ‘Now our backs are against the wall’: Hawks drop to 1-3 with loss at Johnston

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Andrew Haase, Ankeny football

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Senior defensive end Andrew Haase helped the Ankeny football team to a 23-16 victory over top-ranked Dowling Catholic on Friday at Ankeny Stadium. The Hawks allowed just three points in the final three quarters to earn their first win of the season. "Andrew was everywhere tonight," Ankeny coach Jeff Bauer said afterwards. Here is some inside info on … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Andrew Haase, Ankeny football

‘It feels amazing’: Irlmeier’s late TD allows Hawks to stun No. 1 Dowling Catholic

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With its back against the wall, the Ankeny football team found a way to pull off a huge upset against a familiar opponent. Luke Anderson fired a 7-yard touchdown pass to Evan Irlmeier with 1 minute 16 seconds left to give the Hawks a 23-16 victory over top-ranked Dowling Catholic on Friday at Ankeny Stadium. It was the first win of the season for … [Read more...] about ‘It feels amazing’: Irlmeier’s late TD allows Hawks to stun No. 1 Dowling Catholic

‘We have to get better’: Hawks fall to 0-2 after losing rematch of 5A title game

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The last time Ankeny and Southeast Polk collided on the football field, it was for the Class 5A state championship at the UNI-Dome. But inside Ram Stadium on Friday night, the three-time defending champion Rams and Hawks battled to see who could pick up their first win of the season. Two scoring drives in the second half … [Read more...] about ‘We have to get better’: Hawks fall to 0-2 after losing rematch of 5A title game

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Isaiah Bassett, Ankeny Centennial football

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Senior defensive end Isaiah Bassett helped the Ankeny Centennial football team to a 31-10 victory over Ankeny on Friday. The Jaguars intercepted two passes and allowed no points over the final 34 minutes. As a junior, Bassett made 38 tackles--including a team-high 7.5 sacks--while also averaging 37.0 yards as the Jaguars' punter. He was a first-team … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Isaiah Bassett, Ankeny Centennial football

Jackson, Jaguars dominate 2nd half, pull away for 31-10 victory over Ankeny

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) It was tough for Braeden Jackson to pick out his favorite touchdown run. The Ankeny Centennial senior running back scored three times in the second half and rushed for 236 yards to fuel the third-ranked Jaguars to a 31-10 victory over No. 2 Ankeny in the season opener for both teams on Friday. “It feels great,” said … [Read more...] about Jackson, Jaguars dominate 2nd half, pull away for 31-10 victory over Ankeny

‘We just have to make some adjustments’: Hawks look to bounce back from loss

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Earlier this week, Ankeny Centennial co-head football coach Ryan Pezzetti lauded the experience of his team's offensive line. "We have five or six (players) on the line who have played before and that's huge," Pezzetti said. "That's where the games are won or lost--in the trenches." He turned out to be prophetic. Centennial's Braeden Jackson rushed … [Read more...] about ‘We just have to make some adjustments’: Hawks look to bounce back from loss

No. 2 Hawks boast 11 returning all-district players from last year’s 5A runner-up

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A year ago, the Ankeny football team made a surprising postseason run to the UNI-Dome. This year, the Hawks won't be able to sneak up on any of their opponents. Ankeny returns several standouts from a team that posted a 9-4 record and earned a runner-up finish in Class 5A in its first season under coach Jeff Bauer, who was named the Class 5A coach of … [Read more...] about No. 2 Hawks boast 11 returning all-district players from last year’s 5A runner-up

Jaguars, Hawks team up to fight hunger during week of football rivalry game

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Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial will conduct a food drive this week in conjunction with the Jag-Hawk football game on Friday night at Ankeny Stadium. The effort will support the Ankeny Service Center food pantry. Leading up to the game, the two schools will host a food drive competition. The winner will take possession of the JagHawk Trophy. Donations … [Read more...] about Jaguars, Hawks team up to fight hunger during week of football rivalry game

‘I liked the direction the program is headed’: Haase commits to Wayne State

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After landing three players from Ankeny over the weekend, the University of Sioux Falls football program missed out on another local prospect. The Cougars were among the teams that recruited Ankeny senior-to-be Andrew Haase, but the defensive end announced on Sunday that he has verbally committed to Wayne State College (Neb.). Haase visited Drake, … [Read more...] about ‘I liked the direction the program is headed’: Haase commits to Wayne State

Ankeny defensive back Sandvig picks Sioux Falls over NSIC rival Minn. Duluth

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Ankeny defensive back Sam Sandvig has verbally committed to play football for the University of Sioux Falls, an NCAA Division II program that competes primarily in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Sandvig said he picked the Cougars over the University of Minnesota Duluth, another program in the NSIC. "I really only looked at those two the … [Read more...] about Ankeny defensive back Sandvig picks Sioux Falls over NSIC rival Minn. Duluth

Ankeny defensive back Mohrfeld to join Morrison on Grand View football team

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Ankeny defensive back Jacob Mohrfeld has committed to play football at Grand View. Mohrfeld becomes the second Ankeny player in the Class of 2024 to join the Vikings' program. Linebacker Nolan Morrison previously committed to Grand View. Mohrfeld helped the Hawks to a 9-4 record and a runner-up finish in Class 5A last season. He led his team with six … [Read more...] about Ankeny defensive back Mohrfeld to join Morrison on Grand View football team

‘I think this was God’s plan all along!’: Ankeny’s Morrison to play for Grand View

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Despite suffering a serious knee injury last year, Ankeny linebacker Nolan Morrison will still be taking his talents to the next level. The senior has committed to play football for Grand View University in the fall. "I had been talking to quite a few schools, but Grand View was one of the few that I actually visited," said Morrison. "Some things I … [Read more...] about ‘I think this was God’s plan all along!’: Ankeny’s Morrison to play for Grand View

Ankeny’s Dalton commits to play football at Iowa Central Community College

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Ankeny defensive back Nolan Dalton has made his college plans. The senior has committed to play football for Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge. "It was down to Iowa Central, Ellsworth and Grand View," said Dalton. "It was a hard decision, but I wanted to go to a two-year (school) to see where I could end up after that." Dalton emerged as … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Dalton commits to play football at Iowa Central Community College