PITTSFIELD -- Taconic's Trayvon Sims entered Friday's game against Mount Greylock with 24 carries for 243 yards and three touchdowns.
The Mounties' defense didn't allow him to continue that trend. Sims was held to 36 yards on 12 carries and zero touchdowns as they rolled over the Braves 36-0 for their 29th straight win Friday.
"That's always huge, I mean a shutout, we love that," defensive back Eric Leitch said. "I think we spend the most time on defense every week. Our DB's played really well."
Sims wasn't the only Brave who had a difficult night. Taconic was held to just 52 yards in the game. The Braves made it over midfield just twice in the game.
"We keep on improving. I think we played very well against a big, physical line with a great back and a very good quarterback," Greylock coach Shawn Flaherty said. "I don't think we shut [Sims] down and held him to 20 yards, at least I didn't think it would be like that. I think we managed and contained him very well. He is one of the better backs in the league, so I was definitely pleased with the way we played run defense."
The defense also helped kick-start the offense. Taconic's first drive mustered two first downs and then was halted at midfield. On the ensuing drive, Hank Barrett found Leitch in the end zone for a 9-yard touchdown.
The Mounties then stalled out at the Taconic 12 on their second offensive drive of the game. Taconic wasn't able to build
The Braves picked up a first down on the drive, but Tyler Picard made sure that was all they would get. He combined with teammate Andrew Leitch to sack Troy Ziter for a 5-yard loss. Picard then chased down Ziter for an 11-yard loss on the next play, forcing a punt.
"I just played defensive end like I try playing defensive end every week," Picard said. "I guess we just played very good defense."
Ethan Ryan scored on the next drive and the Mounties' defense held the Braves to a quick three-and-out giving Barrett and the offense the ball at the 23. Barrett wasted no time finding Eric Leitch again, for the second Greylock touchdown in a span of a minute.
"[Barrett] usually sees me down field really well," Eric Leitch said. "He saw me open and hit me. Both passes were great passes right to my hands. I'm glad the line gave him the time to throw them, that always helps."
Both touchdown strikes came off play-action fakes.
"The line was very good again and gave Hank time," Flaherty said. "His play-action plays were effective in a sense that they were holding up [the pass rush] again and we could hit the open guys."
Picard also benefited from play-action plays. He caught three passes -- all play action -- for 68 yards.
"A lot of teams don't really pick up the tight end," Picard said. "[Friday] I was open. I guess they weren't covering me as much and our run was doing well, and when the run does well, it opens the passing game."
Brett McCormack put the game out of reach when he returned an interception 46 yards for a score.
Duxbury High School also brought a 28-game winning streak into Week 3 and will play Saturday at 1 p.m.
To reach Sam Monroe, email
smonroe@thetranscript.com.
On Twitter: @NAT_DigitalSam
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