ACE aims to remain perfect in region play, hosts Dodge County Friday
The Ace Gryphons (2-0) look to stay perfect on the season, and in region play, as they host the Dodge County Indians (2-0) in our Week 4 Game of the Week.
MACON, Georgia – (41NBC/WMGT) – The ACE Gryphons are in just their seventh season as a football program. Third-year coach Keith Hatcher is 18-6 so far and is looking to continue to build on that record as the season continues. Right now, his Gryphons are 2-0 overall, and more importantly, 2-0 in the new 10-team Region 2-A-I.
ACE is preparing to face a surprisingly tough Dodge County Indians squad that’s 2-0 under first-year coach Phillip Brown. The Indians went just 1-9 last season. The Gryphons, Indians, Northeast Raiders and Dublin Fighting Irish are all 2-0 in region play.
“You come out on this Monday and you know who your opponent is Friday,” Hatcher said at Monday’s practice. “Everybody is a little bit more locked in, looking forward to a really big time atmosphere Friday night.”
The Gryphons and Indians have never met before.
“The level of intensity in practice, you can already see the difference and we are excited about the week,” he said. “Dodge County is a great football program; it has been for a long time. They are really well coached and they have some big time players, so this is going to be a test for us. [It’s] the biggest challenge that we’ve seen, probably one of the biggest games that’s been played at this stadium since the start of the program, so we’re excited. Our guys are excited about the opportunity to go out and compete against a really good football team.”
Hatcher is hoping to see a packed house of Gryphon faithful at Perkins Field on Friday night.
“Our community’s been great here,” he said. “We’ve got a great game day atmosphere, so it’ll be packed Friday night, and we’re going to need them behind us.”
Catch pregame coverage of our Game of the Week from Perkins Field Friday during 41NBC News at 5, 5:30 and 6 p.m. Don’t miss highlights from our Game of the Week, along with other games from Week Four of the high school football season, during The End Zone on 41NBC News at 11.
