Frank Roche was a star player under John Dubzinski at Arlington a decade ago. He’s hoping to parlay that success into coaching at his alma mater. The second-year mentor has the Spy Ponders off to a 2-0 start heading into tonight’s Middlesex League crossover contest against Stoneham.

Tumwater’s Derek Thompson (five yards) and Jaylin Nixon (40) scampered for touchdowns in the second quarter, Cash Short scored from 24 yards in the third, and Davis erupted for a 36-yard touchdown on Budd’s perfectly-sold fake handoff late in the fourth.

Four weeks into the high school football season, these four previously under-the-radar players have broken out and made an impact for their teams.