The Ankeny Brief
Looking for all sports, not just football? See our Ankeny Hawks & Jaguars sports hub →
When Ankeny outgrew a single high school, the district opened Ankeny Centennial High School in 2013, splitting the town into two large programs that now play in the same conference. Ankeny High sits on the south side (1155 SW Cherry St) and Centennial on the northwest (2220 NW State St). Here is the part that trips up newcomers, though: both teams play their home varsity football games at the same place, the district's shared Ankeny Stadium. More on that just below.
The Ankeny vs Ankeny Centennial game is a genuine cross-town rivalry, two schools from the same district and the same neighborhoods facing off, and it regularly draws one of the bigger crowds of the season. It is the game to circle if you only go to one all fall. Both programs have been competitive in Iowa's top tier of large-school football.
Home varsity football for both the Hawks and the Jaguars is played at Ankeny Stadium, the district's shared competition stadium at Northview Middle School (1302 N Ankeny Blvd). It is not at either high school, which catches a lot of first-timers off guard, so put the Northview address in your phone, not the school's. When the two teams meet, the rivalry is essentially played at a shared home field.
Parking is free in the stadium and Northview lots, and it fills for homecoming and the rivalry, so give yourself 30 to 45 minutes. Seating follows the usual convention: home fans on the home sideline, visitors across the way, and the student section is wherever the noise is, usually toward one end. Gates generally open 30 to 60 minutes before kickoff, and most varsity games start around 7:00 pm on Fridays, but times move, so confirm on the schedule. Check the forecast before you go, since an October Friday can turn cold fast, and follow live scores on Bound at gobound.com.
Iowa high school football kicks off in late August and runs a regular season through early October, with the state playoffs following in November and the finals at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. Most varsity games are Friday nights, with sophomore and freshman games earlier in the week. Homecoming for each school lands in September or early October and turns the whole night into an event.
Homecoming at both schools is built around a Friday home football game in late September or early October, with spirit days, a pep rally and a dance around it. The date moves a little each year, so the quickest check is the football schedule at ankenyhawkfootball.com, where the homecoming game is labeled and linked to that year's week schedule.
Ankeny High (Hawks), 2026: homecoming was Friday, Oct. 9, a home game against Ames at Ankeny Stadium. Around it, the district's schedule had the homecoming dance on Saturday, Oct. 3, Under the Lights on Sunday, Oct. 4, and a community pep rally on Thursday, Oct. 8. Those dates have passed. In 2025 the Hawks played their homecoming game in late September, against Sioux City East.
Ankeny Centennial (Jaguars): Centennial's 2026 homecoming game was Friday, Sept. 25, against Urbandale at Ankeny Stadium, a 35-23 Urbandale win after the Jaguars led 14-0 early. Centennial posts next year's date with its football schedule and announcements at Jaguar Athletics. Its home games are also played at Ankeny Stadium.
This week (from the posted IHSAA pairings):
Schedules change year to year, so go to the source. The Hawks post their schedule at ankenyhawkfootball.com and the school's Hawk Athletics site; the Jaguars post theirs through Jaguar Athletics. Tickets are digital through Bound, and we walk through pricing, the bag policy, and parking just below. We flag the marquee games each week in the free Brief.
Tickets are digital. Both schools sell through Bound, so buy on your phone before you go: the Hawks' ticket page or the Jaguars' ticket page. Regular football admission runs about $6 at Ankeny schools, and a student activity ticket covers the season. Prices can change year to year, so confirm on Bound.
Seniors go free. Ankeny residents 65 and older can pick up a free activity pass for home events at the district office (406 SW School St).
Bag policy: no backpacks or large handbags. Small clear bags, crossbody bags, fanny packs, and purses are allowed but subject to search at the gate; diaper and medical bags are fine. Remember the games are at Ankeny Stadium (Northview Middle School), not at either high school, and the lots fill up for homecoming and the rivalry, so arrive early.
There are good pre-game spots near both schools. For a game at Ankeny High on the south side, the Uptown spots are a short hop, including Trailside Tap and Firetrucker Brewery. For Centennial on the northwest side, The District at Prairie Trail is right there, with 30hop, Magee's Irish Pub, and Flame Cantina. See the full lineup in our best restaurants guide, or let the dinner picker choose for you.
The Ankeny Brief is a free weekly email on the town: the marquee games, school news, events, and what's happening this weekend. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Two: Ankeny High School (the Hawks) and Ankeny Centennial High School (the Jaguars). Centennial opened in 2013, and both play football in the CIML.
Ankeny High is the Hawks and Ankeny Centennial is the Jaguars. Both play in the CIML, and their cross-town game is a highlight of the season.
Late August through early October for the regular season, with playoffs in November. Most varsity games are Friday nights.
Both teams play their home varsity football games at Ankeny Stadium, the district's shared stadium at Northview Middle School, 1302 N Ankeny Blvd, not at either high school. Parking is free in the stadium lots.
The Hawks post theirs at ankenyhawkfootball.com and Hawk Athletics; the Jaguars post theirs at jaguars.ankenyschools.org. Check the official sites, since schedules change yearly.
Regular football admission is about $6 at Ankeny schools, sold digitally through Bound. A student activity ticket covers the season, and Ankeny residents 65 and older can get a free activity pass from the district office. Confirm current prices on Bound before the game.
No backpacks or large handbags. Small clear bags, crossbody bags, fanny packs, and purses are allowed but subject to search at the gate. Diaper and medical bags are permitted.
Near Ankeny High, the Uptown spots like Trailside Tap and Firetrucker are close. Near Centennial, The District at Prairie Trail has 30hop, Magee's, and Flame Cantina. See our Ankeny restaurants guide for more.
Ankeny High homecoming is a Friday home football game in late September or early October. In 2026 it was Friday, Oct. 9, against Ames at Ankeny Stadium, with the homecoming dance on Oct. 3 and a community pep rally on Oct. 8, so it has passed. Check the Hawk football schedule at ankenyhawkfootball.com for next year's date.
Centennial's 2026 homecoming game was Friday, September 25, against Urbandale at Ankeny Stadium. Urbandale won 35-23. Like Ankeny High, Centennial holds homecoming around a Friday home game in late September or early October; the next one will be posted with the football schedule on Jaguar Athletics at jaguars.ankenyschools.org.
Ankeny Centennial plays its home varsity football games at Ankeny Stadium, the district's shared stadium at Northview Middle School, 1302 N Ankeny Blvd, not at Centennial High School. Ankeny High's Hawks play their home games there too.
Tickets are digital through Bound. Use the Hawks' ticket page at gobound.com/ia/schools/ankeny/tickets or the Jaguars' page at gobound.com/ia/schools/centennial/tickets, and buy on your phone before you go. Regular admission is about $6, so confirm the current price on Bound.
Free, every Monday 7 AM
Everything new in Ankeny this week, in one email. No spam, unsubscribe any time.