Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Football

Former Centennial punter left in limbo after St. Cloud State drops football

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After a productive freshman season, former Ankeny Centennial punter Avery Knief appeared to have a bright future with the St. Cloud State football team. His future, though, came to a crashing halt two weeks ago. On Dec. 10, St. Cloud State announced some changes to its intercollegiate athletics program to ensure Title IX compliance, and to address the … [Read more...] about Former Centennial punter left in limbo after St. Cloud State drops football

Ex-Jaguar Dahm helps Minnesota State Mankato reach Div. II title game

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When Max Dahm was a member of the Ankeny Centennial football team, the Jaguars came within two victories of claiming a state title in both 2016 and 2017. As a redshirt freshman on this year's Minnesota State Mankato squad, Dahm nearly captured a national championship. The Mavericks advanced to the NCAA Division II title game before falling to West … [Read more...] about Ex-Jaguar Dahm helps Minnesota State Mankato reach Div. II title game

Ankeny native Rhoads named defensive coordinator at Arizona

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Former Iowa State head football coach Paul Rhoads has been named the defensive coordinator at the University of Arizona. Rhoads, an Ankeny native, spent the last two seasons on the staff of UCLA coach Chip Kelly. He coached the Bruins' defensive backs. Rhoads served as the Cyclones' head coach from 2009-15. He then spent two seasons at Arkansas as the … [Read more...] about Ankeny native Rhoads named defensive coordinator at Arizona

Here’s how to enter Ankeny Fanatic’s College Football Bowl Contest

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Do you like free tacos and beer? Do you know how to pick the winners of college football games? If you answered yes to both of those questions, then you'll want to enter Ankeny Fanatic's College Football Bowl Contest sponsored by Yankee Clipper. The winner of the contest will receive a $50 gift card to Yankee Clipper--and that'll buy you a lot of tacos … [Read more...] about Here’s how to enter Ankeny Fanatic’s College Football Bowl Contest

Here’s how to enter Ankeny Fanatic’s College Football Bowl Contest

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Do you know how to pick the winners of college football games? Do you like free tacos and beer? If you answered yes to both of those questions, then you'll want to enter Ankeny Fanatic's College Football Bowl Contest sponsored by Yankee Clipper. The winner of the contest will receive a $50 gift card to Yankee Clipper--and that'll buy you a lot of tacos … [Read more...] about Here’s how to enter Ankeny Fanatic’s College Football Bowl Contest

Hawkins named to D3football.com All-West Region third team

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Central College quarterback Blaine Hawkins has been named to the D3football.com All-West Region third team. Hawkins, a former Ankeny star, was one of five Central players selected to the squad. Kicker Jon Alberts was a first-team pick, while Hawkins was joined on the third team by offensive linemen Josh Mayhew and Cody Smith and defensive tackle Blade … [Read more...] about Hawkins named to D3football.com All-West Region third team

Yankee Clipper to sponsor Ankeny Fanatic’s College Football Bowl Contest

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Do you know how to pick the winners of college football games? Do you like free tacos and beer? If you answered yes to both of those questions, then you'll want to enter Ankeny Fanatic's College Football Bowl Contest sponsored by Yankee Clipper. The winner of the contest will receive a $50 gift card to Yankee Clipper--and that'll buy you a lot of tacos … [Read more...] about Yankee Clipper to sponsor Ankeny Fanatic’s College Football Bowl Contest

Morningside tops Grand View, advances to NAIA championship game

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The Morningside College football team moved a step closer toward a second consecutive NAIA championship on Saturday while ending Grand View's season. The fourth-seeded Vikings held a 13-7 lead at halftime before No. 1 Morningside responded with a 14-point third quarter and then held on for a 21-16 victory in Sioux City. Former Ankeny player Dylan Miller … [Read more...] about Morningside tops Grand View, advances to NAIA championship game

Penn State kicker Pinegar earns all-B1G honorable mention

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Penn State sophomore place-kicker Jake Pinegar has received all-Big Ten honorable mention from both the football coaches and the media. Pinegar, a former Ankeny Centennial standout, has helped the Nittany Lions to a 10-2 record this season. He has converted 10-of-11 field-goal attempts and 50-of-52 PATs. Pinegar made a season-long 47-yard field goal … [Read more...] about Penn State kicker Pinegar earns all-B1G honorable mention

Hawkins leads miraculous rally; Central advances to 2nd round of playoffs

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Blaine Hawkins and the Central College football team didn't flinch when the Dutch fell behind at halftime, 31-7, in the opening round of the NCAA Division III playoffs on Saturday. All they did was pull off one of the most miraculous victories in school history. Hawkins led a stirring comeback that culminated in a game-tying touchdown with 16 seconds … [Read more...] about Hawkins leads miraculous rally; Central advances to 2nd round of playoffs

Moss interception seals Iowa’s 23-19 victory over undefeated Gophers

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The Minnesota Gophers seem to bring out the best in Riley Moss. Moss, a former Ankeny Centennial star, intercepted two passes in Iowa's 48-31 victory at Minnesota last season. On Saturday, the sophomore defensive back came up with perhaps the biggest play of his collegiate career. Moss intercepted another pass on Minnesota's final drive to seal the … [Read more...] about Moss interception seals Iowa’s 23-19 victory over undefeated Gophers

Former Iowa State walk-on Olson nominated for Burlsworth Trophy

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Iowa State senior offensive lineman Collin Olson, a former Ankeny Centennial star, has been named a nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy, announced Tuesday by the Burlsworth Foundation. The Burlsworth Trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth and is given annually to the nation's most outstanding football player who began his career as a walk-on and has … [Read more...] about Former Iowa State walk-on Olson nominated for Burlsworth Trophy

Hawkins sets Central school record with his 59th career TD pass

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Blaine Hawkins has been steadily climbing the charts in the Central College football record book over the last three seasons. Now, after Hawkins passed for two touchdowns during Saturday's game against Nebraska Wesleyan, there is nobody else left for the junior quarterback to surpass on the school's list for career touchdown passes. The former Ankeny … [Read more...] about Hawkins sets Central school record with his 59th career TD pass

Larson blocks PAT in overtime, helps Loras to 40-39 win over Buena Vista

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During his high school football career at Ankeny Centennial, Riley Larson was consistently a valuable member of the Jaguars' special teams. Larson has continued that trend at Loras College. On Saturday, the senior defensive back blocked an extra-point attempt in overtime to help the Duhawks to a thrilling 40-39 victory over Buena Vista in an American … [Read more...] about Larson blocks PAT in overtime, helps Loras to 40-39 win over Buena Vista

Moss returns to action, but Penn State, Pinegar leave Kinnick with 17-12 win

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More than a few No. 92 Penn State jerseys could be spotted in Kinnick Stadium on Saturday night. Jake Pinegar, the Nittany Lions' sophomore place-kicker from Ankeny, had his own cheering section. The former Ankeny Centennial star didn't disappoint his fans. Pinegar booted a 33-yard field goal in the second half to help ninth-ranked Penn State to a … [Read more...] about Moss returns to action, but Penn State, Pinegar leave Kinnick with 17-12 win

Hawkins hurls 6 TD passes, leads Dutch past Larson’s Duhawks in final matchup

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While preparing for Saturday's game against Loras College, Central College quarterback Blaine Hawkins recognized a familiar name--Riley Larson--in the Duhawks' secondary. "I saw the scouting sheet and I'm like, 'Yeah, I know that guy. I've played against him a lot,'" Hawkins said. "It's probably five or six games now, so it's always fun." The rivalry … [Read more...] about Hawkins hurls 6 TD passes, leads Dutch past Larson’s Duhawks in final matchup

Injured Iowa defensive back Moss to be out for at least 4-6 weeks

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Former Ankeny Centennial star Riley Moss won't be playing in the Cy-Hawk game on Saturday. Iowa's sophomore defensive back suffered an injury during the Hawkeyes' season-opening victory against Miami of Ohio on Aug. 31. He did not play in Iowa's 30-0 win over Rutgers on Saturday. During his weekly press conference last Tuesday, Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz … [Read more...] about Injured Iowa defensive back Moss to be out for at least 4-6 weeks

‘We don’t worry about outside noise’: High hopes don’t faze Olson, Cyclones

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Collin Olson didn't earn his first collegiate start until the third game of his redshirt junior season on the Iowa State football team. Now, after starting the final 11 games last year, Olson is firmly entrenched as the No. 1 left guard on the Cyclones' offensive line. However, the former Ankeny Centennial standout still doesn't consider himself a … [Read more...] about ‘We don’t worry about outside noise’: High hopes don’t faze Olson, Cyclones