Simpson’s three scores highlight New Kent’s 34 unanswered points in season opening win

New Kent’s Owen Payne (4) snags a catch as Gloucester defenders Adarius Wright (14), Brandon McDonald, and Steven Byrd-McManus (2) attempt to bring him down.

Robb Johnson photo

New Kent High School’s football team is looking to build upon a playoff appearance last year. With a focus on being more balanced and not relying heavily on individual athletes in key moments. But for the Trojans, it doesn’t hurt to have someone like Braylon Simpson in the backfield.

Simpson scored three times as New Kent scored 34 unanswered points as they downed the visiting Gloucester Dukes 37-6 in the Bay Rivers District opener.

New Kent got on the scoreboard first with a 35-yard field goal from Will Dickerson. But the Dukes milked the clock for a majority of the opening frame, with Omari Lockley’s plunge into the end zone giving the visitors a 6-3 lead.

But from there, New Kent’s offense took over the game. The Trojan offense moved the ball down the field quickly, capped off with Dylan Bowman’s touchdown pass to Simpson from 15 yards out with 36 seconds until the end of the quarter.

On the subsequent kickoff, the Trojans recovered an onside kick. Just over two minutes later, Sherman Wynn III carried the ball from 25 yards out for another score for the home team. New Kent carried a 17-3 lead into the halftime break.

In the third quarter, Simpson once again trotted into the end zone, this time from 28 yards out to provide the hosts a 24-6 lead with five minutes remaining in the third quarter. New Kent took to the air on offense, with Bowman connecting Payne for 33 yards. Simpson would be the beneficiary of the big play, carrying the ball into the end zone from four yards out at the start of the fourth quarter to increase the hosts lead to 31-7. The Trojans added one more score midway through the final frame as they sent Gloucester to a loss.

New Kent improves to 1-0 on the season.