Cumberland High School’s varsity football team could not overcome a poor start Friday night, dropping its home opener 38-14 to visiting Amelia County High School.

“We came out really flat on defense,” Dukes Head Coach Edgar Knapp said. “We turned the ball over a couple times on offense and just really played poorly in the first quarter.”

The Raiders held a 23-0 lead going into the second period.

“We seem to be struggling with ball security even though we work on it pretty regularly, but we played them even for the rest of the game,” Knapp said.

Cumberland won the second quarter 6-0 and matched Amelia’s production in the third quarter with eight points before the Raiders claimed the fourth quarter 7-0.

“We’ve played three football games, and we haven’t played a complete, full game yet,” the coach said, as the Dukes are still searching for their first win this year.

In their season-opening 28-18 loss to host Charles City County High School, they played well in the second half after a poor showing in the first half. In a 48-19 road loss to Prince Edward County High School two weeks later, they had a strong first quarter and were less effective after that.

“We really have to figure out a way to put together a complete game to get it done,” Knapp said.

Cumberland got on the scoreboard in the second quarter when senior Darius Kyle completed a 35-yard touchdown pass to junior Ziahir Berry.

Berry also scored the Dukes’ second touchdown on a 12-yard run in the third quarter. Kyle passed to junior Isaiah Carter for two points afterward.

“During the game, I knew Ziahir had made some plays for us,” Knapp said. “But when I was breaking the film down was where it really stood out to me, and (I) said, ‘Wow, he played great on both sides of the ball.’”

Berry accounted for 122 yards and two touchdown on offense, and he had eight total tackles, including seven solo, on defense.

Cumberland (0-3) visits Central Lunenburg High School (0-4) on Friday at 7 p.m.