Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Football

Kohl racks up 62 total yards, helps team to 14-7 win at UA Next All-America Game

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Ankeny quarterback JJ Kohl helped Team Phantom to a 14-7 victory over Team Speed in the 2023 Under Armour Next All-America Game on Tuesday at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. The game was televised on ESPN2. Kohl, an Iowa State recruit, was one of 100 players from across the nation who were selected to participate in the game. He shared the quarterback … [Read more...] about Kohl racks up 62 total yards, helps team to 14-7 win at UA Next All-America Game

Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny football team (4th team)

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When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit in March of 2020, Ankeny Fanatic took advantage of the unexpected break from high school sports to publish the first of its many all-time Ankeny teams, recognizing the best boys' basketball players in the community's history. This has since turned into a three-year project. Ankeny Fanatic has now published its … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny football team (4th team)

Six Ankeny players, Centennial’s Miller earn all-state honors from IPSWA

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Ankeny football stars JJ Kohl, Joe Kingston and Jamison Patton have been named to the Class 5A all-state first team by the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association, which selected the teams in conjunction with the Iowa Football Coaches Association. The trio led the Hawks to a 9-2 record this season. They were all second-team picks a year ago, when … [Read more...] about Six Ankeny players, Centennial’s Miller earn all-state honors from IPSWA

Kohl, Miller, Targgart named to all-district first team for 2nd straight year

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The Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial football teams each had 18 players receive all-district honors, including seven first-team picks and seven second-team selections. Ankeny senior JJ Kohl was named to the first team for the second year in a row. Centennial seniors Brody Targgart and Easton Miller were also repeat first-team picks. Kohl, a quarterback, … [Read more...] about Kohl, Miller, Targgart named to all-district first team for 2nd straight year

Johnston pulls off upset, prevents Hawks from making 3rd straight trip to Dome

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The Class 5A semifinals of the high school football playoffs will feature an all-CIML Final Four, marking the first time since 1972 that eastern Iowa does not have a semifinal representative in the largest class. Unfortunately, third-ranked Ankeny won't be making another trip to the UNI-Dome. The Hawks were denied a third consecutive appearance in the … [Read more...] about Johnston pulls off upset, prevents Hawks from making 3rd straight trip to Dome

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: PJ Westover, Ankeny football

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Senior defensive back PJ Westover has helped the Ankeny football team to a 9-1 record and a No. 3 RPI ranking in Class 5A. He ranks second among the Hawks with 39.5 tackles and is tied for the team lead in interceptions with two. Westover had 6.5 tackles in Ankeny's 17-0 win over visiting Sioux City East in the opening round of the playoffs on Friday. He … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: PJ Westover, Ankeny football

Hawks record shutout over S.C. East, will host Johnston in Class 5A quarterfinals

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Survive and advance. That's all that matters this time of the year. The third-ranked Ankeny football team struggled offensively, but the Hawks' defense rose to the occasion in a 17-0 victory over No. 13 Sioux City East in the opening round of the Class 5A playoffs on Friday at Ankeny Stadium. "Our defense played really well," said Ankeny coach Rick … [Read more...] about Hawks record shutout over S.C. East, will host Johnston in Class 5A quarterfinals

The matchups: Hawks to host S.C. East; Jaguars travel to Cedar Falls for rematch

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The Class 5A football playoff pairings have been announced by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. No. 3 Ankeny (8-1) has been placed in Pod C and will host a first-round game against No. 13 Sioux City East (7-2) on Friday. The Black Raiders' only losses were to Ankeny Centennial and Waukee Northwest, two teams that the Hawks defeated this … [Read more...] about The matchups: Hawks to host S.C. East; Jaguars travel to Cedar Falls for rematch

Hawks fly into playoffs with 54-6 win at Lincoln, move up to No. 3 in RPI rankings

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The Ankeny football team is cruising into the Class 5A playoffs. The Hawks, who were tied for third in the latest Associated Press rankings, rolled to a 54-6 victory at Des Moines Lincoln in their regular-season finale on Friday. Ankeny improved to 8-1 with its sixth straight win. Lincoln finished with a 1-8 record. The Hawks have outscored … [Read more...] about Hawks fly into playoffs with 54-6 win at Lincoln, move up to No. 3 in RPI rankings

‘I was proud of our defense’: Hawks shut down Waukee NW en route to 31-7 win

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Ankeny football coach Rick Nelson had an uneasy feeling about Friday's game against visiting Waukee Northwest. The seventh-ranked Wolves were coming off a 20-14 victory over Ankeny Centennial on the same field a week ago, when Brady Grisham ran for 143 yards and two touchdowns. "I was scared they were just going to be able to run it down our throats," … [Read more...] about ‘I was proud of our defense’: Hawks shut down Waukee NW en route to 31-7 win

Hawks romp to 72-0 victory at North, will host Waukee Northwest on Friday

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The Des Moines North football team got off to a 4-1 start, winning four games in a season for the first time since 2008. But the Polar Bears had not played an opponent like third-ranked Ankeny. The Hawks visited North on Friday and turned in a dominating performance, rolling to a 72-0 victory. They built a 51-0 halftime lead and cruised to the win, … [Read more...] about Hawks romp to 72-0 victory at North, will host Waukee Northwest on Friday

Hawks’ big defensive stand, late scoring drive clinch 34-24 victory over Valley

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A huge defensive stand and a late scoring drive allowed the Ankeny football team to post a 34-24 victory over visiting Valley on Friday. The third-ranked Hawks allowed just three points in the second half while raising their record to 5-1 on the season. The Tigers dropped to 3-3. "That was a big one," said Ankeny defensive back Ben Sandvig. "We just … [Read more...] about Hawks’ big defensive stand, late scoring drive clinch 34-24 victory over Valley

‘It felt so good to be back there’: Patton helps Hawks to victory over Roosevelt

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Jamison Patton felt right at home on Friday night at Drake Stadium. So did his Ankeny football teammates. Patton caught four passes for 37 yards against his former team as the third-ranked Hawks built a 28-0 lead and went on to post a 35-18 victory over host Des Moines Roosevelt. He played for the Roughriders last season before transferring to … [Read more...] about ‘It felt so good to be back there’: Patton helps Hawks to victory over Roosevelt

KOHL-BLOODED: Near-perfect QB fires 4 TD passes, leads Hawks past No. 1 SEP

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On paper, the Ankeny football team was expected to have an explosive offense in 2022. After being held to 17.7 points per game in the first three weeks of the season, the fourth-ranked Hawks finally unleashed their lethal attack on Friday. Quarterback JJ Kohl completed 21-of-23 passes for 261 yards and four touchdowns to lead Ankeny to a 31-14 victory … [Read more...] about KOHL-BLOODED: Near-perfect QB fires 4 TD passes, leads Hawks past No. 1 SEP

‘We beat ourselves’: Hawks struggle offensively in 17-10 loss to Dowling

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A loss early in the season doesn't mean that the Ankeny football team won't be playing for a championship in November. In 2020, the Hawks suffered a loss at Waukee in Week 2, but went on to capture the Class 4A state title. Last year, Ankeny was 4-2 at one point, but still went on to play for the Class 5A championship. Now, the Hawks will try to … [Read more...] about ‘We beat ourselves’: Hawks struggle offensively in 17-10 loss to Dowling

‘It was intense’: Patton scores go-ahead TD, lifts Hawks past rival Centennial

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Jamison Patton transferred to Ankeny to play in football games like Friday night's showdown against Ankeny Centennial. The move has paid off for the Hawks. Patton scored the go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter and second-ranked Ankeny went on to defeat the Jaguars, 17-10, before an overflow crowd at Ankeny Stadium. The former Des Moines Roosevelt … [Read more...] about ‘It was intense’: Patton scores go-ahead TD, lifts Hawks past rival Centennial

After sluggish start, Hawks roll past Waukee behind Williams’ 3 2nd-half TDs

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Ankeny football coach Rick Nelson didn't know what his team was doing during the first half of Friday's season opener at Waukee. The Hawks were intercepted three times before the half and went to the locker room trailing, 7-0. "We did some really extreme things," said Nelson. "I'll have to watch the film. I don't know sometimes what we were doing. I'm … [Read more...] about After sluggish start, Hawks roll past Waukee behind Williams’ 3 2nd-half TDs

Led by Kohl, No. 1 Hawks look to contend for 2nd state title in 3 years

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There's been a lot of hype surrounding the Ankeny football team the last couple of seasons. It might be time to take the hype up another notch. The Hawks are No. 1 in the Class 5A preseason rankings by The Des Moines Register. They return several standouts from last year's state runner-up squad--and have also added some talented newcomers. "It's a … [Read more...] about Led by Kohl, No. 1 Hawks look to contend for 2nd state title in 3 years