Ankeny Fanatic

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Ryan Pezzetti

Inexperienced Centennial football team gearing up for grueling schedule

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A grueling schedule awaits the Ankeny Centennial football team. The Jaguars will open their shortened regular season with games against Ankeny, Southeast Polk and Waukee. "Those are probably three of the best four teams in the state," said Centennial co-head coach Ryan Pezzetti. "We certainly have our work cut out for us." Centennial will later … [Read more...] about Inexperienced Centennial football team gearing up for grueling schedule

Centennial’s Fontana named Class 4A assistant football coach of the year

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Mike Fontana didn't think too much of it when he was nominated for the Class 4A assistant football coach of the year award. About a week ago, the longtime Ankeny Centennial and Ankeny assistant was told that he had won the honor from the Iowa Football Coaches Association. "I was like, 'Really. Is this for real?'" Fontana said. "It just made me think … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Fontana named Class 4A assistant football coach of the year

Urbandale pulls off stunning 29-28 win over Jaguars with late 2-point conversion

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Any time there is a single-elimination playoff format in sports, the potential for chaos is always around the corner. On Friday night in Ankeny, the chaos showed itself in more ways than one. The 12th-seeded Urbandale football team scraped by No. 4 Ankeny Centennial--a team that beat the J-Hawks by 20 points in Week 2--after making a two-point … [Read more...] about Urbandale pulls off stunning 29-28 win over Jaguars with late 2-point conversion

Jaguars tune up for playoffs with 63-14 victory at Sioux City West

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The Ankeny Centennial football team will have to wait a little while longer to find out its first-round playoff opponent. The Jaguars know, though, that they'll be opening the postseason at home. Centennial closed out the regular season on Thursday with a 63-14 victory at Sioux City West. The Jaguars finished 5-0 in district play and improved to 8-1 … [Read more...] about Jaguars tune up for playoffs with 63-14 victory at Sioux City West

‘We just come out and hit hard’: Jaguars shut down Roosevelt for 28-7 win

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Ankeny Centennial's defensive unit is sometimes overshadowed by the Jaguars' high-powered offensive attack. That wasn't the case on Friday night. The fifth-ranked Jaguars turned in a dominating defensive performance, holding No. 7 Des Moines Roosevelt to just 84 yards of total offense en route to a 28-7 victory at Ankeny Stadium. "That's our strong … [Read more...] about ‘We just come out and hit hard’: Jaguars shut down Roosevelt for 28-7 win

A-VERY SPECIAL PERFORMANCE: Gates runs wild in Jaguars’ 56-29 victory

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Due to a high ankle sprain that he suffered in the season opener against Ankeny, Ankeny Centennial running back Avery Gates entered Friday's game against visiting Fort Dodge with just 286 rushing yards on the year. He needed less than a half to surpass that total. Gates ran wild in the first two quarters, rushing for 309 yards and five touchdowns as … [Read more...] about A-VERY SPECIAL PERFORMANCE: Gates runs wild in Jaguars’ 56-29 victory

Centennial defense stifles Marshalltown en route to 42-7 road victory

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Coming into Friday night’s game at Leonard Cole Field, the Marshalltown Bobcats were 4-0 and averaging 34.0 points per game. The Bobcats had yet to allow more than 14 points in any of the four games they had played. Ankeny Centennial completely flipped the script. The Jaguars didn’t allow Marshalltown to get a first down until the fourth quarter and … [Read more...] about Centennial defense stifles Marshalltown en route to 42-7 road victory

‘We just got our butt kicked’: Jaguars drop 31-10 decision to Dowling Catholic

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The Dowling Catholic football team got a lot healthier on Friday. Ankeny Centennial still has a ways to go. The fifth-ranked Maroons got a boost from the return of running back Gavin Williams and dominated Friday's showdown against No. 1 Ankeny Centennial, rolling to a 31-10 victory over the Jaguars at Ankeny Stadium. "They're a phenomenal football … [Read more...] about ‘We just got our butt kicked’: Jaguars drop 31-10 decision to Dowling Catholic

Backup shines: Johnson rushes for 206 yards in Jaguars’ win over Waterloo West

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Tyler Johnson wasn't expected to play a starring role for the Ankeny Centennial football team. Now, he may have to--at least for awhile. The junior running back again filled in for injured senior Avery Gates and led the top-ranked Jaguars to a 21-13 victory over visiting Waterloo West in a battle of undefeated teams on Friday. He ran 24 times for 206 … [Read more...] about Backup shines: Johnson rushes for 206 yards in Jaguars’ win over Waterloo West

‘It could have gone either way’: Jaguars prevail in OT after never leading

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The Great American Rivalry Series could not have picked a better game to feature on Friday night than the Jag-Hawk Bowl. Crosstown rivals Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial battled into overtime before Connor Page drilled a 34-yard field goal to give the Jaguars a 17-14 victory at Ankeny Stadium. "I've dreamed about it a little bit," Page said of his … [Read more...] about ‘It could have gone either way’: Jaguars prevail in OT after never leading

Hawks look to end scoring drought, losing streak against Centennial

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In recent years, the Ankeny Centennial football team has dominated the Jag-Hawk rivalry. Will the Jaguars' dominance continue in 2019? We're about to find out. Centennial will host Ankeny on Friday in the season opener for both teams. Kickoff at Ankeny Stadium is at 7 p.m. "I think it's kind of neat to play them for the first game of the year," said … [Read more...] about Hawks look to end scoring drought, losing streak against Centennial

‘I want to win a state title’: Jaguars look for better ending in 2019

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The Ankeny Centennial football team enjoyed a fairytale regular season in 2018, racking up a 9-0 record and earning a No. 1 seed for the Class 4A playoffs. Unfortunately, the Jaguars' season lacked a storybook ending. Centennial suffered a 21-17 loss to Southeast Polk in the opening round of the postseason, preventing the Jaguars from reaching their … [Read more...] about ‘I want to win a state title’: Jaguars look for better ending in 2019

Centennial’s perfect season ends with loss to S.E. Polk in playoff opener

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As he walked to the bus on Friday night, Ankeny Centennial quarterback Garret Severseike realized that he had played his final football game for the Jaguars. "It's going to be different," Severseike said after third-ranked Centennial lost to visiting Southeast Polk, 21-17, in the opening round of the Class 4A playoffs. "The coaches always say, 'There's a … [Read more...] about Centennial’s perfect season ends with loss to S.E. Polk in playoff opener

Jaguars finish 9-0, will host rematch against S.E. Polk in playoff opener

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There wasn't much drama on Friday night at Ankeny Stadium. The third-ranked Ankeny Centennial football team built a 33-0 lead early in the second quarter and went on to defeat Sioux City West, 61-0, in its regular-season finale. The Jaguars wrapped up the Class 4A District 2 title and also secured the No. 1 seed for the upcoming playoffs while keeping … [Read more...] about Jaguars finish 9-0, will host rematch against S.E. Polk in playoff opener

Jaguars thump Roosevelt, move closer to No. 1 seed in Class 4A playoffs

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A year ago, the Des Moines Roosevelt football team battled Ankeny Centennial into the fourth quarter before dropping a 13-6 decision to the Jaguars. Friday's rematch at Drake Stadium wasn't nearly as close. The third-ranked Jaguars built a 42-0 halftime lead and rolled to a 56-6 victory to move one step closer to a perfect regular … [Read more...] about Jaguars thump Roosevelt, move closer to No. 1 seed in Class 4A playoffs

Jaguars outlast Fort Dodge in shootout, 49-44, to remain unbeaten

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With about 1 minute left in Friday's game at Fort Dodge, Ankeny Centennial running back Gabe Godwin burst through the line of scrimmage at the Dodgers' 15-yard line and appeared to have a clear path to the end zone. Godwin had already rushed for three touchdowns, but he passed up an opportunity to score again. The 200-pound senior stopped at the 2-yard … [Read more...] about Jaguars outlast Fort Dodge in shootout, 49-44, to remain unbeaten

Big 2nd half allows Jaguars to avenge last year’s loss to S.E. Polk

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During the first five weeks of the high school football season, Ankeny Centennial defensive back Tyler Rodgers often exchanged text messages with Southeast Polk linebacker Zach Strickland. The correspondence between the two friends came to an end, though, earlier this week. "We played youth football together and he's still one of my great buddies, but … [Read more...] about Big 2nd half allows Jaguars to avenge last year’s loss to S.E. Polk

Jaguars pound Marshalltown, will likely remain No. 1 in playoff RPI

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The Ankeny Centennial football team entered Friday's game against visiting Marshalltown as the No. 1 team in the Class 4A Ratings Percentage Index. The Jaguars, who are third in the Des Moines Register's rankings, didn't do anything to hurt their RPI. Centennial scored the last 42 points of the game and rolled to a 49-7 victory in its District 2 … [Read more...] about Jaguars pound Marshalltown, will likely remain No. 1 in playoff RPI