ARLINGTON — While both Glacier Peak and Arlington entered their season-opening game with big questions, Arlington came up with some decisive answers, defeating the Grizzles 37-7.

How would Arlington do in its first game with the new spread offense?

“It was the best I could have hoped for,” said coach Greg Dailer after the Sept. 5 win. His team found the end zone on each of their scoring drives but the last.

Arlington quarterback Jake Parduhn proved an apt pupil of the plan. Whether through the air or on the ground, the junior was patient and effective, emerging as a threat with his feet as well as his arm.

Parduhn put Arlington on the board early with a keeper to put the Eagles up 6-0, adding to it later in the first quarter with a dramatic pass to Connor Varnell in the end zone as Arlington was facing fourth and 18.

The second quarter was just more of the same. Varnell picked off Grizzly quarterback Zach Richter within spitting distance of the end zone on a pass intended for Luke Westerberg, returning the ball into the middle of Arlington territory.

The turnover set up a long run by Parduhn, who broke through a hole in the middle and all the way down the left sideline for a 40-plus yard scoring run to go up 20-0. Then with less than two minutes before halftime, Arlington took possession of the ball again. Parduhn connected with junior tight end Jon Shell and Varnell on the drive for another touchdown and a 27-point lead at the half.

The Arlington quarterback scored his third and final touchdown on the ground 11 seconds into the fourth quarter, running 52 yards for the score.

The Eagles set up their final scoring drive on the ensuing Glacier Peak possessions as Shell tipped a Richter pass and junior linebacker Michael Olson caught the ball, running for about 50 yards on the play. Arlington went three and out, but the Grizzlies fumbled on the punt return and senior linebacker Chris Myers recovered the ball for Arlington at the Glacier Peak five-yard line.

The Grizzlies held strong at the goal line, leaving Arlington to go the field goal.

Both sides of the ball played well for Arlington and Glacier Peak remained shutout until the final two minutes of the game when the program finally scored its first seven points.

The shutout wasn’t a defect of the Glacier Peak offense. Defensive linemen Sherman Pruitt, Jerod Baker and Peter Ludwig got up close and personal with Richter and the Grizzly backs throughout the game, with Baker recording at least three sacks.

“You can’t stop that guy. He’s tough,” Dailer said of his 6-4 senior lineman.

“We were just playing to win,” added Baker. “We were just trying to go one play at a time and do our best.”