No. 8 Ankeny pulls away from Iowa City West in a key battle of 2-2 teams

IOWA CITY — Ankeny and Iowa City West are two football programs accustomed to life in the postseason.

The Hawks have qualified for the playoffs in 22 of the past 23 years, while the Trojans have made 12 appearances since 2002.

However, sitting at .500, both teams entered Friday’s contest on the outside looking in to Class 5A’s RPI top 16.

Propelled by running-back duo, Daniel Larmie and Caden Henkes, No. 8 Ankeny (3-2) was the team to boost its playoff hopes, knocking off the Trojans, 48-21.

“We felt our boys took the next step tonight,” Ankeny Coach Jeffrey Bauer said. “We made some mistakes on offense and defense, but overall we came back and answered the call.

“We played our most complete game of the year so far.”

The Hawks struck first as junior quarterback Luke Anderson found Andrew Brandhorst open for a 6-yard score, capping an opening eight-play, 49-yard drive.

West responded as junior Jack Wallace found Mason Woods streaking wide-open down the seam for a 55-yard TD.

West’s Evan Anderson then picked off a pass at the Trojans’ 45 and returned it to Ankeny’s 24. However, the offense couldn’t capitalize as the Hawks forced and recovered a fumble on a fourth-and-2 attempt from the 16.

It was the first of four turnovers for West.

Later in the first, Nolan Dalton picked off Wallace at Ankeny’s 40 and returned it to the Trojans’ 15. Caden Henkes punched it in from 2 yards out shortly after.

“It starts upfront; our offensive line keeps making strides every week,” Bauer said. “They’re opening holes up for Henkes and Daniel. Those guys ran hard tonight.”

West drove it to Ankeny’s 22 to open the second quarter, but again couldn’t capitalize as Wallace was sacked forcing a turnover on downs.

“They made plays when we didn’t,” West Coach Garret Hartwig said. “We moved the ball in spurts offensively, but penalties hurt us.”

Ankeny’s defensive front dominated the second quarter, sacking Wallace three times.

The Hawks added two scores late in the second as Devon Akers hauled in a 52-yard TD with 3:45 left. Then, Henkes added a 13-yard score giving Ankeny a 28-7 lead at intermission.

Akers finished with eight receptions for 153 yards.

West came out of the locker room hot as the offense orchestrated an opening nine-play, 59-yard drive capped by a 1-yard Wallace TD.

Ankeny shut it down from there.

The Hawks scored 20 unanswered points with touchdowns from Brandhorst, Henkes and Larmie to make it a 48-14 game with 6:53 remaining.

Santana Miller added a 1-yard TD late for the Trojans.

“Right now, we just have to find a way to get over the hump,” Hartwig said. “We’re right there. Give credit to Ankeny, but we left some plays on the field tonight.”

West will look to get back on track next Friday at Kingston Stadium against Cedar Rapids Jefferson.

Ankeny visits Cedar Rapids Prairie next Friday.