![Teacher Academy students from Ankeny Centennial, juniors Parker Wilson, Tony Mandolfo, and Sophia Royster develop their lesson plans that will be presented to the class. “[Teacher Academy students are] getting the experience of actually seeing if this is a career. They're getting that time in the classroom,” Teacher Academy and science teacher Kristen Campbell-Blumhagen (CB) said.](https://ahstalonnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/centennialstudents-1200x683.png)
It may have been Friday the 13th, but it was only good luck for the Ankeny Hawks during their matchup against the number one ranked Dowling Maroons. Ankeny showcased a strong running game as well as an impressive defense to earn the victory over Dowling.
Ankeny started off the game with a long pass to junior Andrew Brandhorst for a Hawk touchdown to give Ankeny an early 7-0 lead.
Dowling countered with an 18 yard touchdown run, but missed the PAT (point after touchdown) to bring the score to 7-6. The Maroons then scored a second touchdown on a 4-yard run to finish the first quarter with a score of 13-7.
In the second quarter of the game, junior LaMarious Clark intercepted a Dowling pass. Ankeny ended the half with a field goal by senior kicker Ryan Harrington, which tied the score at 13-13.
The Hawks went into the second half of the game tied with Dowling, but were able to pull ahead with a 41-yard field goal. This put the score at 16-13, with Ankeny leading the game at the end of the third quarter.
Dowling fired back with a field goal of their own to tie the score at 16-16 with only four minutes left in the game.
However, Ankeny would have the last word as senior quarterback Luke Anderson threw a touchdown pass to senior Evan Irlmeier with less than two minutes left on the game clock. This set the Hawks up to defeat the Dowling Maroons, with a final score of 23-16.
Following the upset, Ankeny looks to continue the momentum they found this game as they take on the Johnston Dragons on Friday, Sept. 20 at Johnston.
