Improved Spy Ponders Kick Season Off With Road Win

The Arlington football team doesn’t want to settle for below average. And on Friday night in Wilmington they proved it.

In their season opener, the Spy Ponders shut out the Wildcats, 21-0, and showed significant improvement after a strong offseason and preseason.

“These kids do not want to be a 3-8 team or a 2-9 team. They want to set the mark on Arlington football history,” said head coach John Dubzinski. “They did a great job in the offseason and they’ve come ready to play this year.”

On fourth down at the five-yard line in the second quarter on Friday, Arlington quarterback Seth Coiley took the ball right up the middle and dragged the pile all the way into the end zone as the Spy Ponders grabbed a 7-0 lead.

Running back Matthew Garcia’s highlight reel run with 2:40 to play in the opening half extended that lead to 14-0. Garcia took the handoff and was met by two tacklers who appeared to have him wrapped up in the open field.

But Garcia lowered his shoulder, plowed through both Wildcats and scampered 39 yards to the end zone.

Coiley sealed the victory with 1:32 to play in the fourth quarter as he ran for an 11-yard touchdown. Zachary Thomas’ third extra point of the day capped the score and gave Arlington the 21-0 lead.

Wilmington fumbled three times and Arlington made three interceptions on the day, two of which came from junior Marco Saenz-Grant.

“The defense came ready to play,” said Dubzinksi. “That’s the sign of a good team is that when they made mistakes, we were able to respond.”

The Spy Ponder mentor said the team had a solid week of practice leading up to the game, and he said he hopes Arlington’s opening night performance is a sign of things to come.

“I can’t wait for the next game,” said Dubzinski.