ACE Gryphons Set for Region Test Against Northeast in Game of the Week
The 4-0 ACE Gryphons look for their first win in their region series with the 3-1 Northeast Raiders in the fourth all-tim matchup of two macon schools
MACON, Georgia – (41NBC/WMGT) – Week six of the high school football season brings another key region matchup, as the undefeated Academy for Classical Education looks to stay on track.
The Gryphons, now 4-0, are coming off a homecoming win over Wilkinson County. Their early slate has included a hard-fought road win against Dodge County, which head coach Keith Hatcher called the best victory in the eight-year history of the program.
Behind junior quarterback Ace Hatcher and senior running back Bryson Vincent, ACE has scored 132 points through four games. On defense, junior William Winters leads the team in tackles as the Gryphons have allowed just 46 points this season. Players and coaches believe this squad is stronger than any team in school history.
The Gryphons now aim to beat Northeast for the first time in the three-year series, playing the Raiders at home for the first time since 2022. Quarterback Hatcher said it is the biggest game of the season.
“Well, we started off slow, but in the second half, our offensive line really established the run game,” coach Hatcher said of the win over Wilkinson County last Friday. “Bryson had a great second half, and that’s good to see when you need to close out a game with the run game. Stop the run in the second half, run the football, that was pleasing to finish up the game that way.”
Winters said the team is excelling because of chemistry.
“I think we’re just playing as a unit better than we have in the past, all doing our assignments and playing together, trying to be the best teammate I can be and help others and help lead the team on defense,” Winters said.
Players pointed to leadership from the upperclassmen as a difference this season.
“The senior and junior class have been more like better with effort and like intensity in practice and stuff like that,” Ace Hatcher said. “And I think they really want to win more than we have in the past, and I think we’ve shown that.”
Coach Hatcher credited Northeast as a long-time power but said his team is ready.
“We know Northeast, they’ve been the dominant team in this region for years, and Coach Wiggins does a great job,” he said. “We do feel like we have a different team this year. We’ve done some really good things in the first four games. We’re looking to build on that. We’re looking forward to the opportunity to compete with Northeast Friday night.”
Young Hatcher acknowledged the challenge but expressed confidence.
“Obviously, I think we’re a little mismatched, like athletically and size-wise, but I think the effort and the physicality can definitely help us win the game,” he said. “I mean, there’s obviously some doubt from people throughout the school, but I think if everybody on the team knows that we can win this game, then we can win this game for sure.”
Coach Hatcher said the keys remain simple.
“I think both coaches will probably say, you got to run the ball and you got to stop the run, and that’s the key for us,” he said. “We’ve been running the ball really well with Bryson, and we’ve played better defensively than we played since I’ve been the coach here. So we got to continue that, and we got to bow up and play tough football.”
The ACE Gryphons aim for their first win ever in the fourth all-time matchup with the Northeast Raiders in The Endzone’s Week Six Game of the Week. Kickoff on Perkins Field at Gryphon Stadium is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Catch highlights from this game and many more, on The Endzone, during 41NBC News at 11 p.m. Tune into live pregame coverage from Perkins Field during 41NBC News at 5, 5:30, and 6 p.m.
