ACE offense soars in 38-6 opening win over Central at new stadium

The ACE Gryphons rode their explosive offense to their first win of the season Friday night, taking down the Central Chargers in a dominant 38-6 victory.

The Gryphons moved to 1-0 with the win and got an important region victory to open their season strong despite starting a week after most of the other teams in GHSA Region 2 A-Division I.

“We knew Central was going to be really athletic and physical, and that proved to be true,” ACE head coach Keith Hatcher said. “We were concerned because we hadn’t had a scrimmage or a game yet, while they had.

“So, we knew we’d be a little slow and rusty. We made a lot of first-game mistakes, but it’s always nice to make those mistakes in a win, where you can teach and learn.”

Central High School is now 0-2 to open their season. The loss follows a Week 1 setback against GHSA 3A Dougherty to start their year Aug. 16 at Fort Valley State. The Chargers were unable to bounce back despite a spirited effort early in the game.

The Gryphons kicked off their season in style with a commanding victory, marking a memorable home opener at the newly dedicated Perkins Field. The dedication in honor of school co-founder and former principal Laura Perkins set the stage for an impressive performance by the Gryphons.

ACE took control of the game early when junior running back Bryson Vincent found the end zone on its first drive. A successful two-point conversion put the Gryphons up 8-0.

Sophomore quarterback Ace Hatcher connected with senior wide receiver Brice Whitley shortly after for a deep touchdown pass, extending the lead to 14-0 after a missed two-point attempt.

Central responded with a promising drive of their own, as junior quarterback Justin Releford connected with 6’4” sophomore wide receiver Joshua Pettigrew on a long pass to put the Chargers in the red zone for the first time. Releford then kept the ball himself for a touchdown, bringing the score to 14-6 after a failed extra point attempt. 

Unfortunately for the Chargers, this would be their only score of the game as the Gryphons’ defense tightened their grip while the offense took charge.

The toughest part of the game for ACE came when Bryson Vincent, the Gryphons’ hard-nosed running back, was carted off the field in an ambulance after sustaining an ankle injury. The tough sight put a damper on the game for a moment, but then it was back to business for ACE.

Hatcher highlighted several standout performances, including freshman running back Josiah Harris.

“Josiah had to step into the starting role when Bryson got hurt, and he played really well,” Hatcher said. 

The head coach also praised wide receiver Jaylon Davis and emphasized that while Ace Hatcher had room for improvement, he made significant contributions as a freshman quarterback.

On the other side, Central’s head coach Jarrett Laws took a positive approach despite the loss.

“We found out we’ve got a pretty tough quarterback under pressure,” Laws said, noting that Releford handled the Gryphons’ defensive pressure well. He also praised the defense for their second-half adjustments, which limited the Gryphons to just three points after the break.

Looking ahead, Laws emphasized the need for consistency and toughness to turn their season around.

“In Georgia, you don’t win football games unless you are tough, can block, tackle, run, and stop the run. Those fundamental things are going to be our focal points,” he said.

The Gryphons look to build on this strong start as they prepare for their next matchup, while the Chargers will look to regroup and focus on the fundamentals as they seek to bounce back in their upcoming games.