DUXBURY – In Duxbury’s first big test of the season, the defending Div. 4 state champions passed with flying colors.

Trevor Jones scored two touchdowns and intercepted a pass in the end zone while the Duxbury defense pitched a shutout as the host No. 10 Dragons defeated No. 16 Mansfield, 21-0, in a highly anticipated matchup between two of the state’s best on Friday night.

Along with Jones, Cole Michelson came down with an interception for the Dragons also in the end zone. Duxbury’s defense held the Hornets to just 100 yards of offense and did not allow a first down until there was five minutes left in the third quarter.

“Our defensive coordinator, Pete Kaufman, did a tremendous job with the game plan,” Duxbury coach Matt Landolfi said. “Our kids executed the game plan perfectly tonight. Mansfield is a really good team with great tradition, so we’re thrilled to come out of this with a 21-0 win.”

One week after defeating Abington, 38-20, Friday presented a different challenge for Duxbury as the Hornets presented apparent mismatches up front. Duxbury, however, refused to back down.

The Dragons set the tone early with its ability to run the ball going on a 16-play, 80-yard drive over the first 9:47 of action. The drive was capped off by an eight-yard touchdown run by Jones that put Duxbury on top 7-0.

After Jones’ interception in the end zone prevented the Hornets from tying the score, the Dragons ground-and-pound operation went back to work. This time it was commandeered by junior quarterback Brady Rhinesmith.

Over the course of seven minutes Duxbury went on a15-play drive with Jack Rees picking up 28 yards on the ground. Then, after Rhinesmith connected with Ian McNeil and Jack Sovik for nine and eight yard pickups, respectively, the junior hit Sovik on a slant for a two-yard score that put the Dragons on top 14-0 at the half.

“We’re Duxbury football so we want to smash them in the mound, run the ball down the field, and dominate the possession of the game,” Jones said. “The coaches believe in us. We just outworked them.”

The Hornets were held without a yard of offense until midway through the third quarter but managed to get down to the Duxbury 14-yard line with less than eight minutes to play. Michelson, however, came through with the Dragons second interception of the day in the end zone to keep Mansfield off the board.

Jones scored the game-sealing touchdown from a yard out with three minutes to go.