Ankeny Fanatic

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Ryan Pezzetti

‘We didn’t play well enough to win’: Jaguars’ rally falls short against S.E. Polk

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The Southeast Polk football team isn't ready to give up its throne. The three-time defending Class 5A state champions scored two touchdowns in a span of 2 minutes in the third quarter and went on to beat top-ranked Ankeny Centennial, 21-13, on Friday at Ankeny Stadium. The Jaguars (3-1) suffered their first loss of the season, while Southeast Polk (2-2) … [Read more...] about ‘We didn’t play well enough to win’: Jaguars’ rally falls short against S.E. Polk

‘We just played great’: Pezzetti earns his 450th career win as Jags top Cedar Falls

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Iowa high school football’s all-time winningest coach has checked off a milestone no other coach has reached. Ankeny Centennial co-head coach Jerry Pezzetti is just one of three coaches to pass the 400-win threshold, but thanks to the Jaguars’ 31-14 road win over Cedar Falls on Friday, the Ankeny legend became the first … [Read more...] about ‘We just played great’: Pezzetti earns his 450th career win as Jags top Cedar Falls

Jaguars take advantage of short fields, romp to 55-14 victory over Ames

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It's usually important for a football team to win the battle of field position. It certainly was for Ankeny Centennial on Friday night. The Jaguars played almost the entire first half against visiting Ames in the Little Cyclones' territory, allowing them to build a 35-7 lead en route to a 55-14 victory. "Field position is a key, no question about … [Read more...] about Jaguars take advantage of short fields, romp to 55-14 victory over Ames

Jackson, Jaguars dominate 2nd half, pull away for 31-10 victory over Ankeny

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) It was tough for Braeden Jackson to pick out his favorite touchdown run. The Ankeny Centennial senior running back scored three times in the second half and rushed for 236 yards to fuel the third-ranked Jaguars to a 31-10 victory over No. 2 Ankeny in the season opener for both teams on Friday. “It feels great,” said … [Read more...] about Jackson, Jaguars dominate 2nd half, pull away for 31-10 victory over Ankeny

‘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. 3 Centennial looks to build off last year’s postseason run to UNI-Dome

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The Ankeny Centennial football team got hot at the right time last season, advancing to the Class 5A semifinals as a No. 13 seed. The Jaguars are hoping to reach the UNI-Dome again this year--perhaps as a higher seed. Centennial returns 10 all-district players from a team that finished with a 7-5 record under co-head coaches Jerry and Ryan … [Read more...] about No. 3 Centennial looks to build off last year’s postseason run to UNI-Dome

‘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

‘We’re peaking at the right time’: Jaguars rally past Bettendorf, will meet Ankeny

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The Ankeny Centennial football team brought the energy in the second half. The Bettendorf players didn't know what hit them. Thirteenth-ranked Centennial scored 41 unanswered points in the final two quarters and rolled to a 41-14 victory at No. 5 Bettendorf in the Class 5A quarterfinals on Friday. Elijah Porter ran for three touchdowns and also caught … [Read more...] about ‘We’re peaking at the right time’: Jaguars rally past Bettendorf, will meet Ankeny

‘Our kids rose to the occasion’: Jaguars dominate Waukee NW in playoff rematch

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(Story by Rob Gray) From the first snap, Ankeny Centennial just looked different. The underdog Jaguars strode into Friday’s Class 5A playoff matchup at No. 4 Waukee Northwest with a spring in their step and a thirst for revenge in their roster-wide heart. “We’ve had the juice since Monday,” said Centennial running back Elijah Porter, who rushed for … [Read more...] about ‘Our kids rose to the occasion’: Jaguars dominate Waukee NW in playoff rematch

Jaguars rough up Roosevelt, move closer to playoff berth with 43-7 triumph

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All of the goals for the Ankeny Centennial football team are still in play. Elijah Porter ran for three touchdowns and the Jaguars raised their record to 4-3 with a 43-7 victory over Des Moines Roosevelt on Friday at Drake Stadium. The Roughriders dropped to 3-4. "We started off awful slow, and then we got some steam there in the second quarter and … [Read more...] about Jaguars rough up Roosevelt, move closer to playoff berth with 43-7 triumph

Pick-6 on game’s final play seals Dowling Catholic’s 30-17 win over Centennial

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The Ankeny Centennial football team twice converted on fourth down to keep its final drive alive during Friday's game against visiting Dowling Catholic. The Jaguars couldn't do it a third time. Dowling's Kenyi James picked off a pass on the game's final play and returned it 99 yards for a touchdown to seal the second-ranked Maroons' 30-17 victory over … [Read more...] about Pick-6 on game’s final play seals Dowling Catholic’s 30-17 win over Centennial

Jaguars rout Des Moines East for most lopsided victory in school history

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There have been some lopsided wins in the history of Ankeny Centennial football. No game, however, has been as big of a mismatch as Friday's homecoming contest against Des Moines East. The Jaguars jumped out to a 37-0 lead in the first quarter and went on to post a 72-0 victory at Ankeny Stadium. The biggest previous win was a 63-0  rout over … [Read more...] about Jaguars rout Des Moines East for most lopsided victory in school history

‘Our kids fought their tails off’: Jaguars battle S.E. Polk to the wire in 24-21 loss

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(Story by Gabe Ploeger) The Ankeny Centennial football team proved on Friday night that it can go toe-to-toe with the state's No. 1 squad. The fourth-ranked Jaguars battled two-time defending state champion Southeast Polk down to the wire before dropping a 24-21 decision to the host Rams. “Our kids fought their tails off," said Centennial co-head … [Read more...] about ‘Our kids fought their tails off’: Jaguars battle S.E. Polk to the wire in 24-21 loss

Smith passes for school-record 6 TDs, leads Jaguars to rout over Cedar Falls

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Ankeny Centennial's Trenton Smith still remembers walking off the UNI-Dome field after a first-round loss to Cedar Falls in last year's Class 5A football playoffs. "That (game) was definitely in the back of our minds this whole week," said Smith. "It was a pretty sour loss, and I think all of our guys kind of rallied. They knew this was a statement game, … [Read more...] about Smith passes for school-record 6 TDs, leads Jaguars to rout over Cedar Falls

Smith clicks against his former team, leads Centennial to rout over Ames

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(Story by Gabe Ploeger) Entering the Ames High Stadium on Friday night, the Ankeny Centennial football team was looking for a bounce-back game. Suffering a close loss against Ankeny the week before, the 10th-ranked Jaguars were hungry for a win. Adding onto the pressure, Centennial quarterback Trenton Smith had previously played for Ames before … [Read more...] about Smith clicks against his former team, leads Centennial to rout over Ames

SOUTHSIDE PRIDE: Hawks erase 17-point deficit, knock off Jaguars in double OT

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With the game on the line, the Ankeny football team didn't run the play that was called in the huddle. It worked out for the Hawks anyway. Devon Akers caught a two-point pass from Luke Anderson to give the Hawks a thrilling 39-38 victory over rival Ankeny Centennial in double overtime on Friday at Ankeny Stadium. "We actually messed up the play," … [Read more...] about SOUTHSIDE PRIDE: Hawks erase 17-point deficit, knock off Jaguars in double OT

Jag-Hawk rivalry resumes on Friday night to kick off 2023 football season

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Ankeny's crosstown rivals will collide on the gridiron for the 12th time on Friday at Ankeny Stadium to kick off the 2023 high school football season. Ankeny Centennial leads the all-time series, 8-3, but Ankeny has won two of the last three meetings--including a 17-10 victory by the Hawks in 2022. "Ankeny's had a very nice run the last few years," … [Read more...] about Jag-Hawk rivalry resumes on Friday night to kick off 2023 football season

‘We’ve got a great group of kids’: Jaguars return wealth of offensive weapons

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There's a lot of experience on the Ankeny Centennial football team. Co-head coach Ryan Pezzetti is hoping that the return of 12 players who had significant roles on last year's squad that posted a 5-5 record will produce an even better season in 2023. "We've got a great group of kids," said Pezzetti. "We've got quite a few players back on offense and a … [Read more...] about ‘We’ve got a great group of kids’: Jaguars return wealth of offensive weapons

‘It’s a tough one to swallow’: Turnovers prove costly in Jags’ loss at Cedar Falls

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The Ankeny Centennial football players were hoping to finish their season in the UNI-Dome. The Jaguars ended up doing just that, but not in the Class 5A championship game like they would have preferred. No. 12 Centennial traveled to Cedar Falls on Friday and fell to the No. 5 Tigers, 14-10, in the opening round of the playoffs. The Jaguars, who had … [Read more...] about ‘It’s a tough one to swallow’: Turnovers prove costly in Jags’ loss at Cedar Falls