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Rick Nelson

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

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Reid Johnson, Ankeny football

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Sophomore Reid Johnson is a member of the second-ranked Ankeny football team. He has helped the Hawks to a 5-1 record. On Sept. 11, Johnson started at running back in place of injured teammate Colin Kadolph and helped Ankeny to a 52-18 victory at Fort Dodge. He ran 31 times for 149 yards and one touchdown. "Reid has been a varsity player on special … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Reid Johnson, Ankeny football

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

‘We’re nobody to mess around with’: Hawks rout Valley for huge statement

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When the Ankeny football team lost a playoff game at Valley two years ago, the Hawks were a young squad that had yet to fully realize its potential. On Friday, Ankeny returned to Valley Stadium with a veteran roster that was ready for the moment. Jase Bauer passed for 250 yards and five touchdowns as the third-ranked Hawks rolled to a 35-10 victory … [Read more...] about ‘We’re nobody to mess around with’: Hawks rout Valley for huge statement

With a ‘chip on our shoulder’, Hawks shut down Fort Dodge in the rain

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On a rainy night at Dodger Stadium, the Ankeny football team rediscovered its mojo. One week after suffering a heartbreaking loss at Waukee, the sixth-ranked Hawks overcame the wet conditions on Friday to post a 52-18 victory over No. 10 Fort Dodge, dominating the game on both sides of the ball. "We definitely came out with a little bit of a chip on … [Read more...] about With a ‘chip on our shoulder’, Hawks shut down Fort Dodge in the rain

Waukee drives 91 yards for go-ahead TD, posts 21-17 victory over Ankeny

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(Story by David Klockenga) The 10th-ranked Waukee football team scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns and rallied for a 21-17 victory over No. 2 Ankeny on Friday at Waukee Stadium. Ankeny had built a 17-7 lead with two third-quarter touchdowns, but the Hawks could not stop Waukee on its last two drives, giving up the go-ahead score with 7.6 seconds … [Read more...] about Waukee drives 91 yards for go-ahead TD, posts 21-17 victory over Ankeny

‘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

Loaded Ankeny football team looks to end losing skid against crosstown rival

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Ankeny football coach Rick Nelson is anxious to see what the Hawks can do. He won't have to wait much longer. The Hawks, who are second in the Class 4A preseason rankings, will open their season on Friday against archrival Ankeny Centennial. Kickoff at Ankeny Stadium, before a limited crowd due to COVID-19 concerns, is at 7 p.m. "I think we're going … [Read more...] about Loaded Ankeny football team looks to end losing skid against crosstown rival

Ankeny’s Kriebs to join Northern Iowa’s football program as preferred walk-on

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Ankeny defensive lineman Jack Kriebs wanted to play football at the highest level that he could. That's why Kriebs turned down offers from some smaller schools and accepted an invitation to join Northern Iowa's program as a preferred walk-on. "I had some offers from jucos like Iowa Western and Iowa Central and NAIA but nothing DI," said Kriebs. "I … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Kriebs to join Northern Iowa’s football program as preferred walk-on

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Colin Riggs, Ankeny football

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Junior quarterback Colin Riggs helped the Ankeny football team to a 7-4 record this season. Riggs completed 10-of-12 passes for 157 yards and three touchdowns while serving as the backup to Jase Bauer. He also ran five times for 47 yards and another score. Riggs made his presence felt during the quarterfinals of the Class 4A playoffs, when he replaced … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Colin Riggs, Ankeny football

‘We’re starting a new tradition’: Hawks’ talented juniors look ahead to 2020

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The Ankeny Hawks needed a fourth-down conversion on their own 29-yard line to even achieve a first down on their first drive of the night. A shanked punt after three more failed plays gave Dowling Catholic the ball on the Hawks’ side of the field. The Maroons needed just five plays to find the end zone and take a 7-0 lead with a bunch of momentum. It … [Read more...] about ‘We’re starting a new tradition’: Hawks’ talented juniors look ahead to 2020

‘We made a lot of mistakes’: Hawks’ upset bid falls short against Dowling

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Nobody has been able to beat the Dowling Catholic football team in the Class 4A playoffs since 2012. Ninth-seeded Ankeny entered Friday's quarterfinal game at Williams Stadium with confidence that it could pull off an upset, but the third-seeded Maroons dominated the line of scrimmage and moved one step closer to a seventh consecutive state title with a … [Read more...] about ‘We made a lot of mistakes’: Hawks’ upset bid falls short against Dowling

Hawks hold off S.E. Polk in slugfest, will play Dowling Catholic in quarterfinals

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A year ago, the Ankeny football team nearly pulled off a road upset in the opening round of the Class 4A playoffs, dropping a 24-21 decision to then-unbeaten Valley. The Hawks weren't going to let a similar opportunity slip away on Friday. Ninth-seeded Ankeny drove 82 yards in 13 plays for the clinching touchdown in the fourth quarter as the Hawks … [Read more...] about Hawks hold off S.E. Polk in slugfest, will play Dowling Catholic in quarterfinals

Hawks leave no doubts, punch ticket to playoffs with win over S.C. East

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Nobody was sure if the Ankeny football team could afford a loss on Friday and still advance to the Class 4A playoffs. The Hawks didn't want to leave their fate up to the RPI rankings. Ankeny closed out the regular season with a 45-7 victory over visiting Sioux City East, knocking the Black Raiders out of the playoffs and punching its own postseason … [Read more...] about Hawks leave no doubts, punch ticket to playoffs with win over S.C. East

Ankeny romps to 63-0 win over Huskies, gets back to .500 mark

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One way to portray a blowout in a football game is a quarterback kneeling down in the victory formation as the game comes to an end. Usually, though, it doesn’t happen at the end of the first half. For the Ankeny Hawks, that ended up being the case on Friday. The Hawks took a 49-0 lead into the locker room at halftime and went on to post a 63-0 … [Read more...] about Ankeny romps to 63-0 win over Huskies, gets back to .500 mark

Dowling overcomes early deficit, opens district play with 24-14 win over Hawks

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For much of Friday's game against six-time defending Class 4A state champion Dowling Catholic, the Ankeny football team went toe-to-toe with the visiting Maroons. But doing it for the full 48 minutes will be the next challenge for the Hawks. No. 3 Dowling gave up an early touchdown, then responded with 24 unanswered points before holding on to beat No. … [Read more...] about Dowling overcomes early deficit, opens district play with 24-14 win over Hawks

Kadolph, Kumm help Ankeny squash Cinderella in Roosevelt

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Cody Goodwin said on 1460 KXnO that Friday night’s football game at Drake Stadium was the biggest in 25 years for Des Moines Roosevelt. The Ankeny Hawks played like it was a marquee game for themselves from the opening snap, sticking it to the 3-0 Cinderella, 28-14. “We won so I guess I can’t complain about that,” Ankeny coach Rick Nelson said. “We … [Read more...] about Kadolph, Kumm help Ankeny squash Cinderella in Roosevelt

‘We’re our own worst enemy’: Little things prove costly in Hawks’ 28-27 loss

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Rick Nelson knows his way around the UNI-Dome about as well as anyone. The Ankeny football coach returned to his old stomping grounds on Friday, but it was a bittersweet homecoming. Nelson's Hawks came up short in their bid to knock off defending Class 4A state runner-up Cedar Falls, dropping a 28-27 decision to the Tigers in a battle of top-10 … [Read more...] about ‘We’re our own worst enemy’: Little things prove costly in Hawks’ 28-27 loss