The Ankeny Hawks are one step closer to a state title after defeating West Des Moines Valley tonight in the Class 4A Iowa High School Football state quarterfinals.

The top-ranked Hawks beat out the Tigers, 27-10, at Valley Stadium. The team will move on to play Southeast Polk in the semifinals next Friday. The game will be held at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.

The Hawks claimed the early lead in tonight's game, closing out the first quarter at 7-0. At one point in the second, Valley pulled ahead of Ankeny but a 48-yard pass by Joel Lanning to Sam Pickard put the Hawks ahead by the half.

With 5:49 left in the game, Drew Carlson scored another touchdown for the Hawks, giving the team a 10-point lead. Ankeny went out in style though when Lanning threw Marshall Clark a 33-yard touchdown pass to close out the game.

Curious to see how other teams did across the state? Check out our full list here.

Game highlights courtesy of @AHSHAWKS2012