Arlington Football

Playoffs

November 07, 2024

Game Recap

The Ponders had a close game on Friday, falling short to Woburn in a 7-14 game. Both teams had a slow start, remaining scoreless throughout the first quarter. At the end of the second, Woburn scored a touchdown, leaving the Ponders trailing 0-7 going into the half. In the third quarter, a big pass play to Drew Beck set up a touchdown by Jack Zambardino, who ran it in to tie the game 7-7. However, in the fourth quarter, Woburn managed to score one final touchdown, securing the win.

The Ponder's defense had an impressive performance, holding Woburn to just 14 points. They tackled effectively and had great physicality at the line of scrimmage. Dillon McGahan had a standout game at middle linebacker, recording 15 tackles and forcing a fumble. On offense, however, Arlington struggled moving the ball down the field and had too many negative plays. They also had a difficult time establishing a run game. Despite their efforts, the Ponders came up short but showed resilience on defense.

Looking ahead to next game

This week, the Ponders gear up for their first playoff game against the undefeated King Philip, who is fresh off a dominating 35-7 victory over Attleboro. This is the first time the Ponders have played King Philip in the past couple of years, making this an exciting challenge for Arlington. The Ponders are ready to bring their best against a strong opponent as they kick off their first playoff game. (MIAA D2 bracket found here).

To prepare for tomorrow’s game, the Ponders have taken scouting very seriously, as King Philip is a very well rounded program and Arlington is trying to be as prepared as possible. The Ponders have put in a hard week of practice, fine tuning their skills and strategies to ensure they are ready for a tough King Philip team that is ranked #2 in the state.

Support the Ponders in their first playoff game tomorrow at 7 pm at King Philip Regional High School. Tickets can be purchased ahead of time here and the livestream can be found on NorthTV or HudlFan.

Player Q&A

This week, I interviewed senior linebacker and running back James Lopes. Inspired by his brothers, James joined the football team his freshman year, drawn to the physicality and challenge of the game. His most memorable game was earlier this season against Reading, a hard fought match-up where the Ponders showed their grit and played great. However, his favorite moment came during his sophomore year when he made his first varsity start against Winchester. Just like many of his teammates, James’ favorite tradition is the team dinner on the night before a game. Although he doesn't have a pre game ritual he always plays the team music before a game. 

One of James’ strengths is he’s ready to step into any position his team needs. This season, he’s focused on improving his speed. James gives it his all every game, knowing that if he doesn’t, it won't affect just him but also his teammates. If he could play another position, James would choose strong safety. James says the biggest lesson football has taught him is that no one wins alone, and you need a team to succeed. 

Elyse Wagner ‘25
Arlington Football Communications Intern