Ankeny Fanatic

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Football

‘We just came up a little bit short’: Jaguars’ late rally falls short in loss at Johnston

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After twice falling behind by three touchdowns, the Ankeny Centennial football team could have let its season come to an uneventful conclusion. But the Jaguars refused to go away quietly. Visiting Centennial rallied for a pair of scores and had a chance to drive for a tying touchdown in the final minutes before third-seeded Johnston held on for a 34-26 … [Read more...] about ‘We just came up a little bit short’: Jaguars’ late rally falls short in loss at Johnston

‘We’re extremely confident’: Jags wrap up playoff berth with 49-7 win over S.C. North

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) With playoff football looming in the background, Ankeny Centennial needed to come out on its home turf and take care of business before it worried about the postseason. And the Jaguars did just that. Centennial had the running clock going in the second half as the Jaguars earned their spot in the Class 5A playoffs with a … [Read more...] about ‘We’re extremely confident’: Jags wrap up playoff berth with 49-7 win over S.C. North

Playoff pairings announced: Hawks to host S.E. Polk, Jaguars travel to No. 3 Johnston

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The Class 5A football playoff pairings have been announced by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. Fifth-seeded Ankeny (7-2) will host No. 12 Southeast Polk (5-4) in Friday's opening round. The Rams are the four-time defending state champions. The winner of that game will play either No. 4 Iowa City Liberty (8-1) or No. 13 Waukee (4-5) in the … [Read more...] about Playoff pairings announced: Hawks to host S.E. Polk, Jaguars travel to No. 3 Johnston

Jaguars tumble to No. 2 Dowling, will host S.C. North next with playoff berth at stake

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) On a night when two of the top three football teams in Class 5A got beat, the 12th-ranked Ankeny Centennial Jaguars wanted to get in on the action of knocking off a top seed. But Centennial just couldn’t find its footing offensively, and No. 2 Dowling Catholic took control in the second half as the Jaguars dropped to 4-4 on … [Read more...] about Jaguars tumble to No. 2 Dowling, will host S.C. North next with playoff berth at stake

Jaguars strengthen playoff hopes with dominant 2nd half in win over Indianola

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Going into the final third of the regular season, the Ankeny Centennial football team didn't have much margin for error. That's what made Friday's contest against visiting Indianola a de facto playoff game for the Jaguars, who entered the night ranked 14th in the initial RPI rankings from the Iowa High School Athletic Association--one spot behind the … [Read more...] about Jaguars strengthen playoff hopes with dominant 2nd half in win over Indianola

Hawks are No. 7, Jaguars No. 14 in initial Class 5A RPI football rankings from IHSAA

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Both Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial are in position to make the Class 5A football playoffs with three weeks left to go in the regular season. The Iowa High School Athletic Association unveiled its initial RPI rankings for Class 5A on Monday. The Hawks are No. 7 with an RPI of 0.6085, while the Jaguars are No. 14 with an RPI of 0.5285. The RPI … [Read more...] about Hawks are No. 7, Jaguars No. 14 in initial Class 5A RPI football rankings from IHSAA

‘They’re just really good’: No. 2 Tigers overcome early deficit to beat Centennial

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The Ankeny Centennial football team got off to a great start in Friday's game at second-ranked Valley. The Jaguars took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, when Brekken Miller fired a 36-yard touchdown pass to Luke Mitchell on fourth-and-9. "We got the ball first and put together a great drive," said Centennial co-head coach Ryan Pezzetti. "It was over 15 … [Read more...] about ‘They’re just really good’: No. 2 Tigers overcome early deficit to beat Centennial

Jaguars rely on balanced offense, stingy defense to post 42-0 victory at Urbandale

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A balanced offensive attack and a stingy defensive effort proved to be a winning combination for the Ankeny Centennial football team. The Jaguars scored a pair of touchdowns in the first, second and fourth quarters while allowing just 192 total yards and rolled to a 42-0 victory at Urbandale on Friday. It was the Class 5A District 4 opener for both … [Read more...] about Jaguars rely on balanced offense, stingy defense to post 42-0 victory at Urbandale

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Javaris (JJ) Morgan, Ankeny Centennial football

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Senior running back Javaris (JJ) Morgan has helped the Ankeny Centennial football team to a 2-1 record. He ran nine times for 129 yards and scored four touchdowns to lead the Jaguars past Des Moines Lincoln, 47-6, on Thursday at Mediacom Stadium in Des Moines. Morgan has rushed for 440 yards and eight touchdowns on just 27 carries season--an average of … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Javaris (JJ) Morgan, Ankeny Centennial football

‘Our kids responded pretty well’: Despite short week, Jaguars romp past Lincoln

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) It may not have been a normal week of preparation, but the results spoke for themselves. A day prior to the usual Friday Night Lights action, Ankeny Centennial was on a bus to Mediacom Stadium in Des Moines for some Thursday night football against Des Moines Lincoln. Behind another four-touchdown performance from star … [Read more...] about ‘Our kids responded pretty well’: Despite short week, Jaguars romp past Lincoln

Morgan’s huge night on ground, Reed’s pick-6 lead Jaguars to rout over Linn-Mar

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The Ankeny Centennial football team couldn't afford to have an 0-2 start to the season. JJ Morgan and Kiefer Reed made sure that the Jaguars didn't. Morgan rushed for 207 yards and four touchdowns in the first half alone, and Reed added a pick-6 as well as a fumble recovery as Centennial rolled to a 35-10 victory over visiting Linn-Mar (Marion) on … [Read more...] about Morgan’s huge night on ground, Reed’s pick-6 lead Jaguars to rout over Linn-Mar

‘The little mistakes hurt us’: Kickoffs prove costly in Jaguars’ 30-14 loss at S.E. Polk

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Just when the Ankeny Centennial football team appeared to have all the momentum, Southeast Polk grabbed it right back in the next couple of plays. The four-time defending state champion Rams scored two touchdowns in a 2-minute span of the third quarter and went on to beat visiting Centennial, 30-14, in the season opener for both squads on Friday. "The … [Read more...] about ‘The little mistakes hurt us’: Kickoffs prove costly in Jaguars’ 30-14 loss at S.E. Polk

‘We’re excited for this season’: Jaguars to open up against 4-time defending champ

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Most football coaches would prefer to play an overmatched opponent in the season opener just to give their younger players an opportunity to gain some experience. Ankeny Centennial co-head coach Ryan Pezzetti won't have that luxury. The Jaguars will kick off the 2025 season on Friday with a game at Southeast Polk, the four-time defending Class 5A state … [Read more...] about ‘We’re excited for this season’: Jaguars to open up against 4-time defending champ

‘SDSU is the place to be’: Centennial’s Dieken-Keahey commits to Jackrabbits

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Ankeny Centennial football standout Braylin Dieken-Keahey has made his college decision. The junior offensive lineman announced on Monday that he has verbally committed to South Dakota State. "SDSU is the place to be," said Dieken-Keahey. "Great town, great team, and great people. Coach (Dan) Jackson and (offensive line) coach (Mike) Bangtson are the … [Read more...] about ‘SDSU is the place to be’: Centennial’s Dieken-Keahey commits to Jackrabbits

Bruhl chooses football over baseball, commits to play receiver for Iowa Western

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Ankeny Centennial senior Isaac Bruhl is a two-time state placewinner in wrestling and an all-state infielder on the baseball team. He discovered last fall, though, that football was his favorite sport. "I knew I wanted to play either baseball or football in college and after this year’s football season, I had a lot of fun and didn’t want to give up … [Read more...] about Bruhl chooses football over baseball, commits to play receiver for Iowa Western

DOG PILE: Grider commits to join Kluver, Anderson on Drake football roster

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Ankeny Centennial football standout Mitchell Grider has decided to follow in the footsteps of teammates Reed Anderson and Chase Kluver. The senior defensive lineman said he would have committed to play for Drake anyway. "Their commitment had no effect on my choice," said Grider, who announced his verbal commitment to the Bulldogs on … [Read more...] about DOG PILE: Grider commits to join Kluver, Anderson on Drake football roster

‘Drake is a great fit for me’: Kluver flips commitment from Sioux Falls to Bulldogs

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The Drake football program has landed another recruit from Ankeny Centennial. Shortly after linebacker Reed Anderson committed to play for the Bulldogs next fall, fellow senior Chase Kluver followed suit. He becomes the latest player to join the first recruiting class for new Drake coach Joe Woodley, who took over the program after leading Grand View to … [Read more...] about ‘Drake is a great fit for me’: Kluver flips commitment from Sioux Falls to Bulldogs

‘We are all pumped to get going’: Jags’ Anderson to join new era of Drake football

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The final game of Reed Anderson's high school football career was played at Mediacom Stadium near the Drake University campus in Des Moines. On Sunday, the Ankeny Centennial linebacker verbally committed to play for the Bulldogs next year. "I had a visit at Drake this past weekend, and I really enjoyed it as the new coaching staff is great and helped … [Read more...] about ‘We are all pumped to get going’: Jags’ Anderson to join new era of Drake football