Arlington Football

Week 9

October 31, 2024

Game Recap

The Spy Ponders fought hard on Friday in a tough match up against Winchester but ultimately fell short, losing 38-51. Arlington started strong in the first half, with Alexi Trapotsis scoring a touchdown and the team recovering an onside kick. The defense also made a big play early on, with James Lopes recovering a fumble for a touchdown. In the second quarter, Drew Beck caught a touchdown pass, and Jack Zambardino closed out the half with a field goal, which put Arlington in the lead. However, Winchester turned the game around in the second half, scoring 44 unanswered points. Ball control issues and turnovers shifted momentum in Winchester’s favor, making it difficult for the Ponders to maintain their lead.

Despite the setbacks, Arlington showed resilience and fought until the final whistle. James Lopes had an outstanding game with a fumble recovery for a touchdown and an onside kick recovery. Drew Beck also made his mark with 6 catches for 70 yards and 3 touchdowns. Although it was a challenging game, the Ponders are taking this experience as fuel to work harder and improve in this upcoming week.

Looking ahead to next game

This week, the Spy Ponders face Woburn, who has a 4-3 record and are coming off a 34-0 win over Belmont. Last season, Woburn came out on top with a dominating 43-7 win over the Ponders, but as we’ve seen this year, the Ponders are a more resilient team, ready to take on a challenging opponent.

In preparation for tomorrows game, Arlington has focused on getting healthy and improving endurance to stay strong through all four quarters. Aiming to cut down on costly turnovers, the team has put extra effort into ball security. They’re also working hard on fundamentals like blocking, tackling, and getting off blocks. With the preparation, the Ponders are determined to show their strength as they head into their final regular season game.

Tomorrow is Senior Night, a special evening to honor the Spy Ponders’ seniors for their dedication to the team. Join us at Peirce Field at 5:15 PM to show support for this season's seniors who have played a key role in Arlington’s success this season. This year, the team celebrates 12 seniors who have made a lasting impact on the team. The seniors are Jack Zambardino (QB/K), Gavin Carreiro (OL/DL), Henry Tassmer (OL/DL), Peter Harrison (WR/DB), Manu Mahenthiran (WR/DB),  Niko Trapotsis (WR/DB), James Lopes (LB/RB), Roshan Mandal (QB/DB), Peter Ngowi (WR/DB), Chris Carlson (WR/DB), Matthew Malupin (RB/LB) and Logan Hesselberg (RB/LB). Come out to cheer on the seniors as they take the field for their final regular season game! 

Catch an exciting night of football as the Spy Ponders take on Woburn in their last regular season game tomorrow at 6 pm on Peirce Field!

Player Q&A

This week, I had the chance to interview senior captain Henry Tassmer, a key presence on the offensive and defensive line. Henry has been playing football since seventh grade and was inspired by his dad to play. His favorite part about football is getting to play on a team alongside his friends. Henry has a unique game day superstition where he avoids touching any doors before the game.

One of Henry’s standout memories came during his time on JV when he snagged an interception. His favorite team traditions are Mota Mondays and Kerble Wednesdays (a nod to last year’s seniors). One of Henry’s strengths is being quick on his feet and, this season, he’s focused on perfecting his play execution. His most memorable game came last year, in a gritty game against a strong Stoneham team, where Arlington came out with a hard fought win. His preparation for this season began over the summer during team lifts. Off the football field, Henry also plays lacrosse. 

Elyse Wagner ‘25
Arlington Football Communications Intern