RallyNorth.net

Arlington wears down Peabody footballers

Friday, September, 21 By Matt Williams
Staff writer

ARLINGTON | For one quarter, everything was right in Tannerland.

On the second play from scrimmage late yesterday afternoon, Peabody High quarterback Scott Diefenbach found wideout Nick Pointer alone behind Arlington's secondary for a 72-yard touchdown strike. It not only represented the Tanners' first points this season, but also snapped a 314-day scoring drought dating back to last year and gave Peabody its first points of the Dick Woodbury era.

From there, though, Arlington's Dan Leary owned the day. He thrashed the Tanner defense for 219 yards as the Spy Ponders emerged with a 21-6 victory on Pierce Turf.

"We didn't tackle well," said Woodbury, the first-year coach whose team fell to 0-3. "We have to continue to work on our mental toughness. The physical (part) we have, but we have to work on the mental aspects."

Missed assignments helped Leary break an eye-popping eight rushes for 10 yards or more, including four carries of more than 20 yards. Classmate Matt Willey pounded out 85 yards and scored two TDs as the Spy Ponders gained every one of their 317 yards on the ground.

Arlington (2-1) was without the services of senior quarterback John Reardon, who didn't play for undisclosed reasons.

"We had some adversity (at QB), but physically we wore them down," said Spy Ponders coach Dan Hirsch. "Our five guys up front did a good job controlling things."

Peabody's performance was markedly improved from the first two weeks, when they were shut out both times. The Tanners gained 214 yards as sophomore Mark D'Addario showed some promise, rushing for 75 yards. But he also had a costly fumble with Peabody leading 6-0 early in the second quarter.

Leary ripped off a pair of 28 yard runs after the turnover as the Spy Ponders tied it up, 6-6. On the next series, Diefenbach threw his first of three interceptions. and Arlington cashed in again with Willey finding pay dirt from 15 yards out.

"There were a lot of positives tonight and we moved the ball well," Woodbury said. "But we're still young and we're still making mistakes we shouldn't be making."

Arlington's defense clamped down in the second half, conceding just three first downs. Peabody's best chance to get back into it came after Jonathon Balcacer recovered a Leary fumbled at the Arlington 47, but the Tanners gave it right back with their own fumble on second play of the ensuing drive.

The Tanners (0-3) will look for their first win of the year next Friday as they host new Northeastern Conference rival Danvers at Coley Lee Field.