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Jeff Bauer

‘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

‘We had some costly mistakes’: Ankeny falls at Valley on last-second field goal

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The Ankeny football team's four-game winning streak came to an end in stunning fashion on Friday night. A desperate Valley squad scored 10 points in the final 6 minutes 41 seconds and got a 31-yard field goal from Rico Alvarenga-Servellon as time expired to beat visiting Ankeny, 24-23, and keep its playoff hopes alive. "We did a lot of good things … [Read more...] about ‘We had some costly mistakes’: Ankeny falls at Valley on last-second field goal

Hawks dominate 4th quarter, pull away for 40-21 victory over Iowa City Liberty

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There weren't a lot of expectations surrounding the Ankeny football team this season. It might be time, however, to raise the bar. The Hawks used a dominant fourth quarter to pull away for a 40-21 victory over visiting Iowa City Liberty on Friday. They raised their record to 5-2 and have all but clinched a Class 5A playoff berth. "It feels great," … [Read more...] about Hawks dominate 4th quarter, pull away for 40-21 victory over Iowa City Liberty

Hawks survive dramatic finish, hold on for 17-14 victory at Cedar Rapids Prairie

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Ankeny football coach Jeff Bauer breathed a sigh of relief on Friday as he boarded the bus for the trip home from eastern Iowa. The eighth-ranked Hawks survived a dramatic finish to hold on for a 17-14 victory over Cedar Rapids Prairie in a matchup of 3-2 teams battling for playoff position in Class 5A. "It shouldn't have been that close, but it was," … [Read more...] about Hawks survive dramatic finish, hold on for 17-14 victory at Cedar Rapids Prairie

Hawks rack up more than 500 yards of total offense in 48-21 win at I.C. West

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The Ankeny football team racked up more than 500 yards of total offense and rolled to a 48-21 victory at Iowa City West on Friday. Quarterback Luke Anderson completed 17-of-22 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns, while Daniel Larmie and Caden Henkes each rushed for more than 100 yards and combined for four scores. "We were balanced. We were able … [Read more...] about Hawks rack up more than 500 yards of total offense in 48-21 win at I.C. West

‘This was our coming out party’: Hawks’ defense fuels 16-10 win over Johnston

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Friday's game against visiting Johnston wasn't a must-win situation for the Ankeny football team. But a loss would have been the Hawks' third in a row, and could have severely damaged their playoff hopes. Ankeny responded with a huge defensive effort to post a 16-10 victory over the Dragons, leaving both squads at 2-2 after the first four weeks of the … [Read more...] about ‘This was our coming out party’: Hawks’ defense fuels 16-10 win over Johnston