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Football

Centennial’s Porter commits to Northern Illinois, will reunite with his brother Trey

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Ankeny Centennial running back Elijah Porter can change directions quickly on the football field. Now, Porter has changed directions off the field as well. The senior has verbally committed to play for Northern Illinois next year. He had previously committed to Northern Iowa in early August. Porter announced his decision via social media on … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Porter commits to Northern Illinois, will reunite with his brother Trey

Wolves top Centennial on rainy night in battle for Class 5A playoff positioning

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(Story by Gabe Ploeger) The Ankeny Centennial football team just couldn’t seem to find a rhythm Friday against visiting Waukee Northwest. It resulted in a 17-7 loss for the 10th-ranked Jaguars, whose record dropped to 4-4 on the season. No. 7 Northwest (6-2) likely improved its playoff positioning behind quarterback Sam Johnson, who rushed for 147 … [Read more...] about Wolves top Centennial on rainy night in battle for Class 5A playoff positioning

Jaguars rough up Roosevelt, move closer to playoff berth with 43-7 triumph

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All of the goals for the Ankeny Centennial football team are still in play. Elijah Porter ran for three touchdowns and the Jaguars raised their record to 4-3 with a 43-7 victory over Des Moines Roosevelt on Friday at Drake Stadium. The Roughriders dropped to 3-4. "We started off awful slow, and then we got some steam there in the second quarter and … [Read more...] about Jaguars rough up Roosevelt, move closer to playoff berth with 43-7 triumph

Pick-6 on game’s final play seals Dowling Catholic’s 30-17 win over Centennial

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The Ankeny Centennial football team twice converted on fourth down to keep its final drive alive during Friday's game against visiting Dowling Catholic. The Jaguars couldn't do it a third time. Dowling's Kenyi James picked off a pass on the game's final play and returned it 99 yards for a touchdown to seal the second-ranked Maroons' 30-17 victory over … [Read more...] about Pick-6 on game’s final play seals Dowling Catholic’s 30-17 win over Centennial

Jaguars rout Des Moines East for most lopsided victory in school history

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There have been some lopsided wins in the history of Ankeny Centennial football. No game, however, has been as big of a mismatch as Friday's homecoming contest against Des Moines East. The Jaguars jumped out to a 37-0 lead in the first quarter and went on to post a 72-0 victory at Ankeny Stadium. The biggest previous win was a 63-0  rout over … [Read more...] about Jaguars rout Des Moines East for most lopsided victory in school history

‘Our kids fought their tails off’: Jaguars battle S.E. Polk to the wire in 24-21 loss

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(Story by Gabe Ploeger) The Ankeny Centennial football team proved on Friday night that it can go toe-to-toe with the state's No. 1 squad. The fourth-ranked Jaguars battled two-time defending state champion Southeast Polk down to the wire before dropping a 24-21 decision to the host Rams. “Our kids fought their tails off," said Centennial co-head … [Read more...] about ‘Our kids fought their tails off’: Jaguars battle S.E. Polk to the wire in 24-21 loss

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Elijah Porter, Ankeny Centennial football

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Senior running back Elijah Porter ran 13 times for 128 yards and caught five passes for 87 yards and two touchdowns to help the Ankeny Centennial football team to a 42-13 victory over sixth-ranked Cedar Falls on Friday at Ankeny Stadium. He has helped the Jaguars to a 2-1 record. Porter leads the team in rushing with 315 yards on 35 carries, despite … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Elijah Porter, Ankeny Centennial football

Smith passes for school-record 6 TDs, leads Jaguars to rout over Cedar Falls

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Ankeny Centennial's Trenton Smith still remembers walking off the UNI-Dome field after a first-round loss to Cedar Falls in last year's Class 5A football playoffs. "That (game) was definitely in the back of our minds this whole week," said Smith. "It was a pretty sour loss, and I think all of our guys kind of rallied. They knew this was a statement game, … [Read more...] about Smith passes for school-record 6 TDs, leads Jaguars to rout over Cedar Falls

Smith clicks against his former team, leads Centennial to rout over Ames

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(Story by Gabe Ploeger) Entering the Ames High Stadium on Friday night, the Ankeny Centennial football team was looking for a bounce-back game. Suffering a close loss against Ankeny the week before, the 10th-ranked Jaguars were hungry for a win. Adding onto the pressure, Centennial quarterback Trenton Smith had previously played for Ames before … [Read more...] about Smith clicks against his former team, leads Centennial to rout over Ames

‘We’ve got a great group of kids’: Jaguars return wealth of offensive weapons

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There's a lot of experience on the Ankeny Centennial football team. Co-head coach Ryan Pezzetti is hoping that the return of 12 players who had significant roles on last year's squad that posted a 5-5 record will produce an even better season in 2023. "We've got a great group of kids," said Pezzetti. "We've got quite a few players back on offense and a … [Read more...] about ‘We’ve got a great group of kids’: Jaguars return wealth of offensive weapons

Centennial running back Porter commits to play for Northern Iowa

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Ankeny Centennial running back Elijah Porter has verbally committed to play football at Northern Iowa, beginning in 2024. Porter announced his decision on social media Friday. He becomes the second player from Ankeny to commit to the Panthers this week after Ankeny linebacker Connor Kayser committed on Monday. As a junior, Porter helped the Jaguars to … [Read more...] about Centennial running back Porter commits to play for Northern Iowa

Centennial lineman Jones to join Simon, Targgart on Iowa Western squad

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There's another Ankeny Centennial football player headed to Iowa Western Community College. Offensive lineman Cavan Jones verbally committed to the Reivers on Friday. He joins teammates Hudson Simon and Brody Targgart, who both committed to Iowa Western last week. "It definitely played a factor in my decision," said Jones. "I've been really close … [Read more...] about Centennial lineman Jones to join Simon, Targgart on Iowa Western squad

IT’S MILLER TIME: Centennial two-way standout accepts PWO offer from ISU

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When Ankeny Centennial football standout Easton Miller received an invitation to join the Iowa State program, he started to ignore the other schools that were recruiting him. "When this popped up, I focused in on this rather than other schools," Miller said. On Tuesday, Miller verbally committed to the Cyclones, announcing his decision on Twitter. He … [Read more...] about IT’S MILLER TIME: Centennial two-way standout accepts PWO offer from ISU

Centennial teammates Simon, Targgart commit to play football at Iowa Western

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Ankeny Centennial football standouts Hudson Simon and Brody Targgart are both headed to Iowa Western Community College. Simon, a linebacker, announced his commitment to the Reivers on Friday. Targgart, a defensive lineman, committed on Saturday. The Centennial teammates visited Iowa Western on Monday. "I knew that day that was where I wanted to go," … [Read more...] about Centennial teammates Simon, Targgart commit to play football at Iowa Western

‘It’s a tough one to swallow’: Turnovers prove costly in Jags’ loss at Cedar Falls

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The Ankeny Centennial football players were hoping to finish their season in the UNI-Dome. The Jaguars ended up doing just that, but not in the Class 5A championship game like they would have preferred. No. 12 Centennial traveled to Cedar Falls on Friday and fell to the No. 5 Tigers, 14-10, in the opening round of the playoffs. The Jaguars, who had … [Read more...] about ‘It’s a tough one to swallow’: Turnovers prove costly in Jags’ loss at Cedar Falls

Jaguars romp past East to clinch playoff berth, await postseason pairings

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The Ankeny Centennial football team entered Friday's regular-season finale against visiting Des Moines East ranked 14th in the PRI ratings and badly needing a victory to clinch a Class 5A playoff berth. The Jaguars got what they needed in resounding fashion. Centennial scored a touchdown just 19 seconds into the game and went on to rout the Scarlets, … [Read more...] about Jaguars romp past East to clinch playoff berth, await postseason pairings

‘We knew it would be tough’: Jaguars fall to No. 2 S.E. Polk without Porter, Smith

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This wasn't the best week for the Ankeny Centennial football team to be missing two of its key players. With quarterback Trenton Smith and running back Elijah Porter both out with injuries, the eighth-ranked Jaguars traveled to defending Class 5A state champion Southeast Polk and suffered a 42-16 loss on Friday. "We knew it would be tough," said … [Read more...] about ‘We knew it would be tough’: Jaguars fall to No. 2 S.E. Polk without Porter, Smith