Fans of defensive football would have been well served to avoid Darling Stadium on Friday, as the Gloucester Dukes and Bethel Bruins combined for 108 points. The Dukes would crash Bethel’s homecoming, winning by a score of 59-49.

Pregame predictions from regional news outlets estimated a 34-14 Bethel victory, a score surpassed by the third quarter in a game that saw more than a half dozen lead changes. 

Gloucester continued its streak of winning coin tosses and put its defense on the field to start the game. Bethel got out to an early 7-0 lead, which was answered by a Gloucester drive that ended in an Isaiah Lester field goal.

With their backs to their own end zone and trailing 7-3, the Dukes found themselves in a precarious opening position. Quarterback Isaiah Lester would turn and hand the ball off to running back Malakyi Cooke, hoping to give the Dukes a little breathing room. Instead, Cooke exploded through the hole opened by his offensive line and outran ever...