They took on a couple of the best teams on the South Shore to start the season, and then faced some of the weaker teams the following three weeks. Having now faced a range of competition during its so-called exhibition season, the Dragons are set to start their run for a league title and playoff berth after shutting out Pembroke on Friday night, 28-0. Facing the Titans was expected to be one of the easier assignments on the Duxbury schedule, but when facing a Bob Bancroft coached team, you know you are in for a battle.

The best way to prevent an upset is to jump on an opponent early and make him play catch-up. That was what the Dragons were hoping for, as QB Kane Haffey directed a seven-play, 61-yard drive on the opening possession, highlighted by a 46-yard pass to senior Sam Beattie that took the ball down to the 11-yard line.

Two rushes by sophomore Henry Buonagurio put the Dragons into the end zone with 6:47 left in the quarter, and junior Ben Startzell’s PAT quickly made it 7-0.

Neither team could get much going over the next four possessions, as Duxbury continued to shoot itself in the foot with consecutive fourth-down fumbles.

With 4:40 left in the half, Pembroke had good field position at the Duxbury 42, only to watch as Duxbury’s CJ Cote and Max Randle crushed Titan QB Anthony Juliano for a huge loss on third down to force a punt that landed back at the Duxbury 42-yard line.

Buonagurio ripped off a 20-yard gain on first down, and continued to move the Dragons forward with a nine-yard burst for another first down. A holding penalty brought the ball back to the 33, but a 14-yard run by Buonagurio and a 15-yard scamper by Haffey put the ball at the four-yard line as the clock was winding down.

Haffey was sacked for a five-yard loss, but made up for it two plays later by sneaking into the end zone from a yard out. Startzell made the conversion, as the Dragons went to the locker room with a 14-0 halftime lead.

Coach Dave Maimaron has shown just about everything in his playbook so far this season, and he wasn’t afraid to do it once again, as he attempted an onsides kick that almost backfired.

After the Titans recovered the kick at their own 49-yard line, Benjamin Healey took a hand-off on first down and went 51 yards for an apparent score, only to have the play called back because of holding.

On fourth down with two yards to go, sophomore defensive back Reilly Naton combined with Cote to nail Healey for a three-yard loss, giving the ball back to the Dragons, who did nothing with it as they fumbled on fourth down.

Pembroke had great field position at the Duxbury 45 with 8:32 left in the quarter and seemed to have its offense in gear as it moved down to the 29. Nevertheless, Cote made the big play once again, sacking Juliano for a 14-yard loss and setting up Duxbury’s next scoring drive.

After moving the ball just 11 yards in six plays, Startzell went back to punt. Taking the snap, the junior stood tall and fired a pass to Buonagurio down the right sideline for 24 yards and a first down on the trick play.

“We do it because people have to defend it. Everyone is watching us and by faking a punt it does make them think about slowing down their punt rush,” said Maimaron.

Five plays later Haffey found senior Matt Savard in the left corner of the end zone for a 10-yard TD pass. Startzell put the extra point through the uprights and the Dragons led 21-0 with 9:41 left in the game.

Beattie would stop Pembroke’s next drive on fourth down with a tackle of Anthony Gomes for a four-yard loss, setting up the Duxbury offense at the 46-yard line where it was now being led by sophomore QB Seamus Connelly.

Classmate Andrew Buron would get the call on Duxbury’s final drive of the game, breaking off a 26-yard gain on second down and turning the right corner for a 16-yard TD run three plays later to end the scoring at 28-0.

“We’ve won three games in a row, but we’re still inconsistent,” said Coach Maimaron. “The defense is playing well, but we need to clean it up on offense. North Quincy is a quality opponent and it will be a tough challenge, and after that it doesn’t get any easier. I don’t think any of the teams we play the rest of the year are as tough as Bridgewater or Plymouth North. We can play at that speed and we were in the game, but we just couldn’t finish, so we know what level we need to play at to win the league and it’s one game at a time.”

Next up for the Dragons are the North Quincy Red Raiders, who begin a five-game stretch of games that will determine Duxbury’s destiny in post-season play. The game is in Duxbury at 7 p.m. on Friday night.