A lot has happened - and not happened - since ACE last played a football game

        There was some optimism before the season started for ACE, the young program suffering more than others with the havoc wreaked in 2020 by COVID-19.

          The Gryphons need more of everything – conditioning, reps, team-building exercises – than most teams, and suffered from not getting that work. With a return to near normal, expectations and confidence had grown.

          But ACE didn’t look good – or promising – in a 48-0 loss to FPD in the Macon Touchdown Club Middle Georgia Kickoff Classic. Two days later, head coach Jason Stephens was out and defensive coordinator Sam Zanders was in charge.

ACE interim head coach Sam Zanders finally gets to coach the Gryphons for the first time since the team's season opener, which was followed two days later by the departure of head coach Jason Stephens.

Video: Michael A. Lough/The Central Georgia Sports Report

          Game cancellations followed, and the Gryphons haven’t played since Aug. 21. That’ll change Friday (Sept. 17) night.

          Finally. Zanders talked about the transition and the wait and Friday night after the first Macon Touchdown Club meeting on Monday.