EXETER — Jamie Vogt rumbled 57 yards off right tackle, gashing Manchester Central's defense on the game's first play from scrimmage.

Gashing on Friday night was the name of No. 1 Exeter's game.

Tyler Grant slipped a tackle on the offense's second play and scored from 5 yards out. It kick-started an emotional 35-point first-half barrage for Exeter, which, after the death Tuesday of sophomore teammate Cody Brackett, dismantled No. 2 Central, 49-0, in Division I football at Bill Ball Stadium.

“It wasn't about any of us. It wasn't about (myself) ... It wasn't about Exeter. It wasn't about Central. It was about playing for No. 28,” said Grant, who watched from the sideline in the second half.

The team attended Brackett's wake prior to kickoff, then participated in a stadium-wide moment of silence at 6:57 p.m. Less than 10 minutes later, Exeter (3-0 overall, 2-0 Div. I) was on the board.

“To say (the week) was difficult is an understatement,” Exeter head coach Bill Ball said. “The greatest thing we have is each other, and certainly Cody's family.”

The game, Grant said, was a welcomed distraction for the team. The senior co-captain certainly played with focus.

Grant gutted the Little Green in the opening 24 minutes. He scored four touchdowns — two apiece on the ground and through the air — and twice intercepted Central quarterback Riley Cote. Grant's longest gain was a 46-yard catch-and-run score, a screen pass disguised nicely by quarterback Ethan Joyce.

Colby Swane (four carries for 121 yards) tacked on the final TD of the first half, Exeter's fifth, with a 28-yard run. Touchback-machine Logan Laurent converted his fifth extra point with 5 minutes, 1 second left until halftime.

“What happened? Exeter's real good. We're not real good yet,” said Central head coach Ryan Ray, whose team's 35-point hole to start the second half forced running time. “We played sloppy (six turnovers). The wheels fell off real fast.”

Exeter's lead ballooned to 14-0 in a blink — 1:56 to be exact. Central's second offensive play ended with a lost fumble, which Vogt recovered 14 yards from the end zone.

Joyce, rolling to his right, hit Grant for an 11-yard TD on the drive's second play.

Grant's screen-reception TD and short-yardage rushing score helped double Central's deficit to 28-0.

Jake Boria and Chris Kelly found the end zone after halftime. Matt Oppici and William Knutson kicked the extra points.

“To be here (with) these guys tonight, and certainly Cody's parents (with) all they're going through, I'm just very grateful and very proud,” Ball said. “I just want to help the Bracketts in whatever way we can.”

mthaler@unionleader.com