Ankeny Fanatic

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Jeff Bauer

‘We didn’t play our best’: Hawks close out season with 21-13 loss at Iowa City Liberty

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) After coming off a Class 5A championship game appearance, the Ankeny Hawks planned on finishing their 2024 football season at the UNI-Dome. Things didn’t necessarily end up happening how the Hawks wanted to as their season ended about 83 miles southeast of Cedar Falls in Iowa City, just one game shy of returning to the … [Read more...] about ‘We didn’t play our best’: Hawks close out season with 21-13 loss at Iowa City Liberty

‘I knew he was ready to break out’: Larmie runs for 279 yards, 4 TDs in Hawks’ victory

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Ankeny Centennial's Braeden Jackson put on a show Friday night at Ankeny Stadium. Over the next few hours, Ankeny's Daniel Larmie proved to be just as spectacular. The junior running back rushed for 279 yards and four touchdowns to lead the eighth-seeded Hawks to a 47-21 victory over No. 9 Linn-Mar (Marion) in the nightcap of a first-round Class 5A … [Read more...] about ‘I knew he was ready to break out’: Larmie runs for 279 yards, 4 TDs in Hawks’ victory

Hawks weather lightning delay, gear up for playoffs with rout over C.R. Washington

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The Ankeny football team was hoping to get an extra day of rest prior to the start of the postseason. But those plans went out the window after Thursday's game against Cedar Rapids Washington was suspended due to lightning at Kingston Stadium. After a long night on the bus, the Hawks were forced to return to Cedar Rapids on Friday afternoon--and they … [Read more...] about Hawks weather lightning delay, gear up for playoffs with rout over C.R. Washington

‘I was so proud of our defense’: Clark’s pick in OT seals Hawks’ 13-10 win over Valley

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The Ankeny football team didn't want its postseason hopes to hinge on next week's regular-season finale at Cedar Rapids Washington. Friday's overtime victory against fourth-ranked Valley likely punched the Hawks' playoff ticket. LaMarious Clark picked off a third-down pass from Valley quarterback Drake DeGroote to end the game, and No. 15 Ankeny evened … [Read more...] about ‘I was so proud of our defense’: Clark’s pick in OT seals Hawks’ 13-10 win over Valley

‘We have our work cut out for us’: Hawks fall to 3-4 with loss at Iowa City Liberty

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The margin for error has been eliminated for the Ankeny football team. Following Friday's 28-20 loss at second-ranked Iowa City Liberty, the No. 12 Hawks are now 3-4 on the season and could drop out of the top 16 in the Class 5A RPI rankings this week. Ankeny will likely need to win its final two games against No. 4 Valley (6-1) and Cedar Rapids … [Read more...] about ‘We have our work cut out for us’: Hawks fall to 3-4 with loss at Iowa City Liberty

Hawks even record, continue push for playoff bid with 35-16 win over C.R. Prairie

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Regardless of gold jerseys or white jerseys, one of two Hawk teams was bound to exit Ankeny Stadium on Friday with a much-needed victory to keep its playoff hopes alive. And in the end, it was the Ankeny Hawks who soared past the visiting Cedar Rapids Prairie Hawks, 35-16, to improve to 3-3 on the season. “We needed (the … [Read more...] about Hawks even record, continue push for playoff bid with 35-16 win over C.R. Prairie

Henkes, Hawks run past Iowa City West for 38-22 win, keep playoff hopes alive

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Caden Henkes and the Ankeny football team got a much-needed win on Friday night. Henkes ran for two touchdowns in the first half and the Hawks went on to beat visiting Iowa City West, 38-22, in their district opener. The homecoming victory raised Ankeny's record to 2-3, keeping its playoff hopes alive. "We needed that one," said Ankeny coach Jeff … [Read more...] about Henkes, Hawks run past Iowa City West for 38-22 win, keep playoff hopes alive

‘Now our backs are against the wall’: Hawks drop to 1-3 with loss at Johnston

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) After coming off a run to the Class 5A state championship game last season, the Ankeny Hawks returned plenty of talent to ensure they’d undoubtedly be contenders for the title that slipped through their fingers. But now the Hawks are battling to keep any postseason hopes alive. A 24-7 road loss against the Johnston … [Read more...] about ‘Now our backs are against the wall’: Hawks drop to 1-3 with loss at Johnston

‘It feels amazing’: Irlmeier’s late TD allows Hawks to stun No. 1 Dowling Catholic

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With its back against the wall, the Ankeny football team found a way to pull off a huge upset against a familiar opponent. Luke Anderson fired a 7-yard touchdown pass to Evan Irlmeier with 1 minute 16 seconds left to give the Hawks a 23-16 victory over top-ranked Dowling Catholic on Friday at Ankeny Stadium. It was the first win of the season for … [Read more...] about ‘It feels amazing’: Irlmeier’s late TD allows Hawks to stun No. 1 Dowling Catholic

‘We have to get better’: Hawks fall to 0-2 after losing rematch of 5A title game

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The last time Ankeny and Southeast Polk collided on the football field, it was for the Class 5A state championship at the UNI-Dome. But inside Ram Stadium on Friday night, the three-time defending champion Rams and Hawks battled to see who could pick up their first win of the season. Two scoring drives in the second half … [Read more...] about ‘We have to get better’: Hawks fall to 0-2 after losing rematch of 5A title game

‘We just have to make some adjustments’: Hawks look to bounce back from loss

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Earlier this week, Ankeny Centennial co-head football coach Ryan Pezzetti lauded the experience of his team's offensive line. "We have five or six (players) on the line who have played before and that's huge," Pezzetti said. "That's where the games are won or lost--in the trenches." He turned out to be prophetic. Centennial's Braeden Jackson rushed … [Read more...] about ‘We just have to make some adjustments’: Hawks look to bounce back from loss

No. 2 Hawks boast 11 returning all-district players from last year’s 5A runner-up

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A year ago, the Ankeny football team made a surprising postseason run to the UNI-Dome. This year, the Hawks won't be able to sneak up on any of their opponents. Ankeny returns several standouts from a team that posted a 9-4 record and earned a runner-up finish in Class 5A in its first season under coach Jeff Bauer, who was named the Class 5A coach of … [Read more...] about No. 2 Hawks boast 11 returning all-district players from last year’s 5A runner-up

Bauer named Class 5A Coach of the Year by Iowa Football Coaches Association

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With only five returning starters, the Ankeny football team entered last season with some tempered expectations. Coach Jeff Bauer never believed them, though. Bauer guided the Hawks to a 9-4 record and a runner-up finish in Class 5A in his first season as head coach. Now, he has been named the Class 5A Coach of the Year by the Iowa Football Coaches … [Read more...] about Bauer named Class 5A Coach of the Year by Iowa Football Coaches Association

Hawks finish memorable postseason journey with 49-21 loss in 5A title game

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Ankeny couldn't have asked for a better start in Friday's Class 5A championship football game. Unfortunately, the Hawks needed a lot more than a 90-yard kickoff return from Evan Irlmeier to knock off mighty Southeast Polk at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. The top-ranked Rams got five touchdown runs from CJ Phillip, forced six Ankeny turnovers and rolled … [Read more...] about Hawks finish memorable postseason journey with 49-21 loss in 5A title game

‘THAT WAS A BATTLE’: Ankeny edges Jaguars again, earns shot to play for title

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Ankeny's Jacob Mohrfeld couldn't believe what had just happened at the UNI-Dome. "It doesn't feel real," Mohrfeld said. "I can't believe it, man. It's crazy." The senior defensive back blocked a field goal and had one of his team's three interceptions as the Hawks knocked off crosstown rival Ankeny Centennial, 10-7, in the Class 5A semifinals on Friday … [Read more...] about ‘THAT WAS A BATTLE’: Ankeny edges Jaguars again, earns shot to play for title

‘Our kids are just relentless’: Hawks stun No. 2 Dowling, earn trip to UNI-Dome

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(Story by Gabe Ploeger) The only thing standing in the way of Ankeny’s ticket to the Class 5A semifinals was the powerhouse of Dowling Catholic, which had handed the Hawks one of their three losses during the regular season. This time, however, David defeated Goliath in stunning fashion. No. 7 Ankeny pulled off a 14-7 upset on Friday at Williams … [Read more...] about ‘Our kids are just relentless’: Hawks stun No. 2 Dowling, earn trip to UNI-Dome

‘We were just mentally stronger’: Hawks oust Johnston, earn shot at No. 2 Dowling

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(Story by Gabe Ploeger) Late into the fourth quarter, in the moment where it mattered most, the Ankeny Hawks secured their ticket to the quarterfinals of the Class 5A football playoffs. With only 2 minutes to go, the Hawks held a 14-9 lead over visiting Johnston and had the ball at the Dragons' 32-yard line, but faced a crucial third down. All … [Read more...] about ‘We were just mentally stronger’: Hawks oust Johnston, earn shot at No. 2 Dowling

Hawks roll into playoffs with 49-19 win over C.R. Washington, improve to 6-3

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The Ankeny football team took care of business on Friday. The eighth-ranked Hawks not only rolled to a 49-19 victory over visiting Cedar Rapids Washington in their regular-season finale, but they jumped out to a big early lead that allowed coach Jeff Bauer to rest some of his starters for the Class 5A playoffs. "It was good to let some of the … [Read more...] about Hawks roll into playoffs with 49-19 win over C.R. Washington, improve to 6-3