Ankeny Fanatic

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Football

Ankeny kicker/punter Pelham to join Kadolph at Minnesota State-Mankato

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The Minnesota State-Mankato football team has landed a second recruit from Ankeny High School. Senior place-kicker and punter Max Pelham verbally committed to the Mavericks on Friday. He joins his teammate Colin Kadolph, a running back who committed to Mankato earlier this fall. "I looked at about seven to eight schools seriously, but I didn't think … [Read more...] about Ankeny kicker/punter Pelham to join Kadolph at Minnesota State-Mankato

Four-star recruit: Ankeny QB Kohl ranked No. 223 nationally by Rivals

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Ankeny quarterback JJ Kohl is now listed as a four-star recruit on Rivals. Kohl, a 6-foot-6, 225-pound junior, is ranked No. 223 nationally in the Class of 2023. He is the No. 5 prospect in the state of Iowa and No. 14 nationally at his position. Kohl helped the Hawks to a 10-3 record and a runner-up finish in Class 5A this season. He completed … [Read more...] about Four-star recruit: Ankeny QB Kohl ranked No. 223 nationally by Rivals

Seven Ankeny players named to Class 5A all-state first team by IPSWA

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Thirteen Ankeny football players have received all-state honors from the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association, which selected the teams in conjunction with the Iowa Football Coaches Association. Two Ankeny Centennial standouts were also honored. The Hawks, who posted a 10-3 record and earned a runner-up finish in Class 5A, placed seven players on the … [Read more...] about Seven Ankeny players named to Class 5A all-state first team by IPSWA

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Tamden Webb-Tate, Ankeny football

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Senior linebacker Tamden Webb-Tate helped the Ankeny football team to a 10-3 record and a runner-up finish in Class 5A. He has been named to the all-district first team for the second year in a row. Webb-Tate made eight tackles in the Hawks' 24-7 loss to Southeast Polk in the Class 5A championship game on Friday at the UNI-Dome. He led the team this … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Tamden Webb-Tate, Ankeny football

Kadolph, Webb-Tate, Porter earn repeat all-district first-team honors

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The state runner-up Ankeny football team landed eight players on the all-district first team and eight more on the second team. Ankeny Centennial, meanwhile, had six first-team selections and six second-team picks. The all-district teams were selected by the coaches from the following teams: Ankeny, Centennial, Ames, Marshalltown and Waukee … [Read more...] about Kadolph, Webb-Tate, Porter earn repeat all-district first-team honors

‘They played better than us on this night’: Hawks fall short in title game rematch

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(Story by Rob Gray) It hurts to watch. You’re helpless. The game is essentially decided and the opposing team is flexing and raising its arms on the sideline with 3-plus minutes left. That’s where Ankeny’s football players found themselves late in Friday night’s 24-7 rematch loss to Southeast Polk in the Class 5A championship game and — you … [Read more...] about ‘They played better than us on this night’: Hawks fall short in title game rematch

Back-to-back crowns?: Ankeny Fanatic’s prediction for the Class 5A title game

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If you missed this week's Ankeny Fanatic podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America, check it out. We broke down Friday night's Class 5A championship game with seven different guests. So will Ankeny capture its second straight title and the fourth in school history? Or will Southeast Polk claim its first championship? The Hawks have won the last … [Read more...] about Back-to-back crowns?: Ankeny Fanatic’s prediction for the Class 5A title game

‘We just wanted to avenge that loss’: Hawks pound Valley, soar into title game

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Nobody can blame Mason Morrow if he has some nightmares this week. The Valley quarterback was running for his life Friday all over the UNI-Dome turf. Ankeny used a suffocating defensive effort to limit Morrow and the Tigers to 248 total yards and rolled to a 35-13 victory in the Class 5A semifinals at Cedar Falls. The Hawks avenged an earlier 38-35 … [Read more...] about ‘We just wanted to avenge that loss’: Hawks pound Valley, soar into title game

Kadolph, Hawks avenge loss to Valley, will play S.E. Polk for Class 5A crown

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Colin Kadolph and the Ankeny football team are one win away from defending their state title. Kadolph rushed for 183 yards and scored four touchdowns to lead the Hawks to a 35-13 victory over Valley in the Class 5A semifinals on Friday at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. "He makes me so proud," Ankeny defensive lineman Braden Simonsen said of Kadolph. "He … [Read more...] about Kadolph, Hawks avenge loss to Valley, will play S.E. Polk for Class 5A crown

A title game rematch?: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A semifinals

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The Class 5A football playoffs are down to the Final Four, and that means it's time to head to the Dome. Ankeny, last year's Class 4A champion, is back in the semifinals for the second straight year along with Southeast Polk, last year's runner-up. The Hawks and Rams will be joined at the Dome by two other traditional powers, Valley and Iowa City … [Read more...] about A title game rematch?: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A semifinals

DOMEWARD BOUND!: Hawks throttle C.R. Prairie, will play Valley in semifinals

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On a windy night in Cedar Rapids, the Ankeny football team turned to its power running game to earn another trip to the UNI-Dome. Colin Kadolph rushed for 78 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the second half, and the fifth-seeded Hawks dominated the final two quarters to defeat fourth-seeded Cedar Rapids Prairie, 37-7, in the Class 5A quarterfinals on … [Read more...] about DOMEWARD BOUND!: Hawks throttle C.R. Prairie, will play Valley in semifinals

Hawks pull away from Waukee Northwest with dominant 2nd half

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(Story by David Klockenga) The Ankeny football players knew they were in a battle with visiting Waukee Northwest on Friday before the third-ranked Hawks pulled away in the second half for a 42-3 victory in the opening round of the Class 5A playoffs. Ankeny (8-2) led by just 14-3 at halftime before outscoring the Wolves, 28-0, in the final two … [Read more...] about Hawks pull away from Waukee Northwest with dominant 2nd half

IT’S ALL CHALK: Favorites prevail in opening round of Class 5A playoffs

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There were no upsets in the opening round of the Class 5A football playoffs as all eight of the higher seeded teams prevailed on Friday by an average margin of 26.75 points. Ankeny, the No. 5 team in the final RPI rankings, rolled to a 42-3 victory over visiting Waukee Northwest. The Hawks, who won last year's Class 4A championship, will play at Cedar … [Read more...] about IT’S ALL CHALK: Favorites prevail in opening round of Class 5A playoffs

Hawks to host Waukee Northwest, Jaguars to play at Valley in first round

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The Class 5A football pairings have been announced by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. Fourth-ranked Ankeny (7-2) earned the No. 5 spot in the final RPI rankings and will host a first-round game against Waukee Northwest (5-4) on Friday at 7 p.m. The two teams met just a week ago, with the Hawks rolling to a 48-7 victory at Northwest. Cedar … [Read more...] about Hawks to host Waukee Northwest, Jaguars to play at Valley in first round

Hawks knock Lincoln out of playoffs, move up to No. 5 in final RPI rankings

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The Ankeny football team appears to be ready for the Class 5A playoffs. The fourth-ranked Hawks closed out the regular season on Friday with a 56-0 victory over visiting Des Moines Lincoln. The loss knocked Lincoln (5-4) out of playoff contention, dropping the Railsplitters to 18th in the final RPI rankings. The top 16 teams in the final rankings will … [Read more...] about Hawks knock Lincoln out of playoffs, move up to No. 5 in final RPI rankings

Ankeny falls to No. 7, Centennial drops to No. 19 in latest Class 5A RPI rankings

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Both Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial dropped in the latest Class 5A RPI football rankings that were released by the Iowa High School Athletic Association on Monday. Ankeny (6-2) is seventh in the rankings with an RPI of 0.6150. The Hawks were tied for sixth a week ago but did not move up following an impressive 48-7 victory at Waukee Northwest on … [Read more...] about Ankeny falls to No. 7, Centennial drops to No. 19 in latest Class 5A RPI rankings

KABOOM!: Kadolph rushes for 250 yards, 6 TDs in Hawks’ rout over Northwest

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At times this season, the Ankeny football team hasn't looked like the squad that won the Class 4A state championship in 2020. On Friday night, however, the Hawks looked like the team to beat in the inaugural Class 5A playoffs. Colin Kadolph rushed for 250 yards and six touchdowns to lead fifth-ranked Ankeny to a 48-7 victory at Waukee Northwest, … [Read more...] about KABOOM!: Kadolph rushes for 250 yards, 6 TDs in Hawks’ rout over Northwest