Duxbury 42, Bridgewater-Raynham 22

BRIDGEWATER — ‘‘Why couldn't they have played like that in the first half? The question echoed from fan to fan in the Bridgewater-Raynham stands after the Trojans' season-opening loss to Duxbury, 42-22. Duxbury coach Dave Maimaron was content with the way his team played. ‘‘We worked hard to get ready for this game and we prepared,'' Maimaron said. ‘‘We played a great first half and its always an accomplishment to beat B-R.'' The Green Dragons, who led 28-0 at halftime, came out in full force, scoring five minutes in on a 71-yard pass from Kane Haffey to Don Webber, who found an opening down the right sideline and took it to the end zone. B-R barely resembled last season's Super Bowl contending team when it took possession on the next drive. The offense gained a single yard before being forced to punt on fourth-and-9. ‘‘It looked like it was our first day of practice in the first half,'' B-R coach Dan Buron said. ‘‘I've got to give [Duxbury] credit. They took it to us up front. They were doing whatever they wanted with us in the first half.'' Duxbury controlled the ball the rest of the quarter and scored three minutes into the second quarter when Haffey faked to Henry Buonagurio and ran it in from the 3-yard line. Tucker Hannons extra-point kick was blocked. Things continued the same until halftime, with Duxbury scoring two more times on plays by senior running back Matt Hallisey. Matt O'Keefe connected with Hallisey from 13-yards out, and Haffey hit Hallisey with a 2-point conversion pass, giving the Green Dragons a 21-0 lead. Twenty seconds later, Hallisey intercepted Billy Zolga's pass intended for Nick Schlatz at the B-R 35 and ran in it for the score. This time Tucker's kick was good and Duxbury went into the locker room with a commanding lead. B-R recorded just 29 yards of total offense in the first half, but the Trojans looked like an different team when they hit the field for the second half. ‘‘In the second half we played like I thought were going to play in the first half,'' Buron said. ‘‘Honestly, if we could've come out playing like that, who knows what would've happened.'' Buron's squad scored on a six-play drive to start the second half that ate up just over three minutes. Zolga showed off his skills with a 13-yard pass and the 24-yard touchdown run after faking a pass and a handoff. Mike Chicoine added the PAT. Duxbury went three-and-out before punting back to Zolga, who directed another touchdown drive. Zolga and his running backs worked the ball down the field before he completed a 27-yard TD pass to tight end Sean O'Donnell. Zolga hit Eric Wabrek with a 2-point conversion pass, closing the gap to 28-15. Hallisey added to Duxbury's score to start the fourth when he caught a 65-yard Haffey touchdown pass. The Trojans answered two minutes later when Zolga threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Brett Stewart, but the Green Dragons had the final say with a 25-yard Buonagurio run in the last minute.