Gloucester coach Sonny Merchant called it a tale of two halves. His Dukes gave up 35 first-half points to Hampton last Thursday, then held the Crabbers to only seven points and less than 50 yards in the second half. A third-quarter field goal by Jackson Lowther prevented a shutout, but the 42-3 loss dropped Gloucester to 1-4 in the Peninsula District.

Merchant said his players once again came out flat in Darling Stadium. "They came out with anticipation, an uncertainty, and not with the attitude of just go play your own game," said Merchant, who watched his team give up 22 points in the first quarter alone.

The Dukes returned from the halftime break more focused, and successfully executed an onside kick to help set up the field goal from Lowther. "We did a good job, at 35-0, not coming out and just quitting. That was a point of pride, to come back out and be a second half team," Merchant said. "But I’m still looking for that consistency for all four...