Gloucester High School junior Tyrus Wilson set the tone in the Dukes’ homecoming football game with Warwick on Friday when he returned the Raiders’ opening kickoff for a touchdown. The Dukes went on to win the game, 42-8. 

Allah Armstead scored later in the first quarter and opened the second quarter with his second TD on the night. Andrew Coxe, Gloucester’s junior kicker, was good on all six of his point-after attempts in the victory. 

Quarterback Isaiah Spencer scored with a keeper and after Gloucester took over on downs with less than two minutes remaining, Spencer looked to Armstead again for a surprise TD just before the half to put the Dukes up, 35-0. 

Gloucester coach John Scalf gave some of his starters a rest and let other players have time on the field in the second half. After a scoreless third quarter, Warwick got on the board with a touchdown and two-point conversion while Peyton Carneal scored the final Dukes’ TD of the night.

“It was a great crowd and a great example of total teamwork,” said Scalf on his homecoming win. “All three aspects of the game, the offense, defense and special teams, they complemented each other. I’m proud, I’m really proud.”

The win put Gloucester at 4-3 overall; 4-2 in the Peninsula District. After starting the season with three losses, the Dukes have won four straight PD games and hope to add a fifth when they take on Menchville at 7 p.m. Friday at GHS. 

A win over the Monarchs may very well give Gloucester its first post-season opportunity in several years. “I’m excited. I honestly believe we’ll be in it, and I hope to be a fourth or fifth seed,” Scalf said. 

The Gloucester jayvees have had less luck in their past two outings, including Saturday’s 35-0 loss to Warwick. The junior Dukes are 3-3 and play at Menchville on Saturday.