Ankeny Fanatic

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Arland Bruce IV

‘Mama I’m a Cowboy’: Ex-Ankeny star, former Iowa wideout Bruce lands at OSU

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Former Iowa wide receiver Arland Bruce IV has landed in Stillwater. Bruce announced via Twitter on Saturday that he will transfer to Oklahoma State. "Mama I'm a Cowboy #gopokes," he tweeted. Bruce, who helped lead Ankeny to the Class 4A state championship in 2020, spent two seasons at Iowa. He caught 19 passes for 187 yards and one touchdown as a … [Read more...] about ‘Mama I’m a Cowboy’: Ex-Ankeny star, former Iowa wideout Bruce lands at OSU

Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny football team (3rd team)

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For the last 54 years, a lot of young boys have grown up in Ankeny wanting to play football for coach Jerry Pezzetti. Some of those players wanted to follow in the footsteps of their fathers who played for Pezzetti. That was the case for Drew Carlson, a standout linebacker on Ankeny's 2012 state championship team. His father, Luke, starred for Pezzetti … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny football team (3rd team)

‘After much thought and prayer’, Iowa’s Bruce decides to enter transfer portal

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One day after the Iowa football team landed coveted Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara through the transfer portal, the Hawkeyes lost another of their top receivers. Former Ankeny star Arland Bruce IV announced via Twitter on Friday that he is entering the transfer portal, joining fellow wideout Keagan Johnson, who announced his departure on … [Read more...] about ‘After much thought and prayer’, Iowa’s Bruce decides to enter transfer portal

Bruce, Brecht, Kumm looking to make impact for depleted receiving corps

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Perhaps no position group on the Iowa football team has more question marks than the wide receivers. A trio of former Ankeny stars--Arland Bruce IV, Brody Brecht and Jordan Kumm--will try to provide some answers. Bruce, a sophomore, is currently listed at a second-team spot behind senior Nico Ragaini. Brecht, a redshirt freshman, and Kumm, a sophomore … [Read more...] about Bruce, Brecht, Kumm looking to make impact for depleted receiving corps

KINGS OF THE DOME: Ankeny soars to Class 4A crown with rout over Rams

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When Arland Bruce IV transferred to Ankeny earlier this fall, the Iowa recruit didn't know he was joining a state championship football squad. "I knew the talent we had was pretty scary," Bruce said. "But I really didn't look too far into it. I was just worried about trying to get onto the field with the guys." Bruce sat out the first five games of the … [Read more...] about KINGS OF THE DOME: Ankeny soars to Class 4A crown with rout over Rams

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Arland Bruce IV, Ankeny football

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Senior Arland Bruce IV has played a huge role in helping the Ankeny football team advance to the Class 4A championship game. On Friday, he accounted for 133 total yards and also sealed the victory with an interception in the second overtime as the Hawks dethroned seven-time defending state champion Dowling Catholic, 31-24, in the semifinals at the … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Arland Bruce IV, Ankeny football

‘It’s an amazing feeling’: Hawks outlast Dowling, will play S.E. Polk for 4A crown

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Dowling Catholic's stranglehold on the Class 4A championship trophy had to come to an end sometime. It finally did on Friday the 13th. Jase Bauer ran for the go-ahead touchdown in the second overtime, then Arland Bruce IV sealed the victory with an interception as the second-ranked Ankeny football team outlasted No. 3 Dowling, 31-24, in the Class 4A … [Read more...] about ‘It’s an amazing feeling’: Hawks outlast Dowling, will play S.E. Polk for 4A crown

THE END OF A DYNASTY: Hawks dethrone 7-time state champions

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Arland Bruce IV didn't grow up in Ankeny, but he knows all about Dowling Catholic's recent dominance of the Class 4A football landscape. Bruce intercepted a pass on Dowling's first play in the second overtime to give the second-ranked Hawks a thrilling 31-24 victory in the Class 4A semifinals on Friday night at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. The loss ended … [Read more...] about THE END OF A DYNASTY: Hawks dethrone 7-time state champions

Bruce explodes for IV touchdowns, leads No. 2 Ankeny to the UNI-Dome

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Ankeny quarterback Jase Bauer has played with and against a lot of great athletes during his high school football career. He isn't sure if he's seen anyone like Arland Bruce IV. "He's just a dude," Bauer said of the Iowa recruit. "I mean, he's one of the best players I've ever seen. The dude can just flat-out play. When the play is not there, he's … [Read more...] about Bruce explodes for IV touchdowns, leads No. 2 Ankeny to the UNI-Dome

DOMEWARD BOUND: Hawks ride Bruce past Waukee, into Class 4A semifinals

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Next stop: the UNI-Dome. The second-ranked Ankeny football team earned a trip to the Class 4A semifinals with a 28-7 victory at No. 4 Waukee on Friday. The Hawks (9-1) won their eighth straight game since dropping a 21-17 decision at Waukee (7-3) on Sept. 4. "I'm just happy for the kids," said Ankeny coach Rick Nelson. "I can't say enough about them. … [Read more...] about DOMEWARD BOUND: Hawks ride Bruce past Waukee, into Class 4A semifinals

‘We can definitely smell it’: Hawks top Cedar Falls, move closer to semifinals

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A trip to the UNI-Dome is now just one win away for the Ankeny football team. The second-ranked Hawks advanced to the Class 4A quarterfinals for the second straight year with a 37-16 victory over visiting Cedar Falls on Friday. They scored the final 29 points of the game to erase a 16-8 deficit. "We've been anxious these last couple of weeks," … [Read more...] about ‘We can definitely smell it’: Hawks top Cedar Falls, move closer to semifinals

Explosive plays help No. 2 Hawks to huge victory over Indianola in finale

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Big plays were the name of the game on Friday in Ankeny as the second-ranked Hawks squared off with the Indianola Indians (3-4). Even in a blowout 45-14 win for Ankeny, both teams saw big plays throughout the night, especially early on. “We have really good players,” Ankeny coach Rick Nelson said. “Who’s fooling themselves? You’re not going to win if … [Read more...] about Explosive plays help No. 2 Hawks to huge victory over Indianola in finale

Bruce makes impressive debut as Hawks dismantle Johnston in 49-0 victory

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The Ankeny football team was already considered a threat to win the Class 4A state title. Now, the Hawks may have emerged as the favorites. The addition of heralded transfer Arland Bruce IV to a potent offense makes third-ranked Ankeny a scary opponent in the upcoming playoffs. On Friday, the Hawks demonstrated all of their weapons in a 49-0 … [Read more...] about Bruce makes impressive debut as Hawks dismantle Johnston in 49-0 victory

‘They overwhelmed us’: High-powered Hawks dominate Centennial in 48-6 win

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You can believe the hype. The Ankeny football team is for real. Jase Bauer passed for four touchdowns and Colin Kadolph ran for three more as the second-ranked Hawks romped to a 48-6 victory over No. 7 Ankeny Centennial on Friday at Ankeny Stadium, defeating the Jaguars for the first time since 2015. "We all thought it was going to happen," Kadolph … [Read more...] about ‘They overwhelmed us’: High-powered Hawks dominate Centennial in 48-6 win

Highly-touted Kansas City receiver to join Brecht in Ankeny’s potent lineup

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The rumor turned out to be true. Arland Bruce IV, a three-star recruit who is committed to Iowa, has officially transferred to Ankeny High School and will play football for the Hawks this season. Speculation had been growing for the last several days that Bruce was headed to Ankeny. But his transfer to the school was not approved until Friday … [Read more...] about Highly-touted Kansas City receiver to join Brecht in Ankeny’s potent lineup