ARLINGTON – The Stoneham football team had a bit of a sour taste from losing to Arlington last year.

The revenge was sweet in another Middlesex League crossover bout Friday night.

Behind a monster performance on the ground that accrued nearly 500 team yards, as well as a bend-don’t-break defensive performance, the Spartans (2-0) bruised their way to a 49-21 win over the Spy Ponders (2-1) despite leading by just two scores entering the fourth quarter.

Seniors Sean Kilty (230 rushing yards, four touchdowns) and Logan Tran (162 rushing yards, two touchdowns) led the way on just 24 combined carries, each finding the edge for touchdowns from over 70 yards out.

“We work hard on (the run), it’s what we do,” said Stoneham head coach Bob Almeida. “That’s a heckuva football team. I think they’re a very dangerous team. … We felt like if we could get into the secondary that we would have a chance, and that’s what happened.”

“Tonight was a great outcome, it’s exactly what we expected,” Kilty added. “We wanted our get-back.”

The game was closer a few times than the final score suggested, as Arlington’s passing attack kept Stoneham from breaking the game open until the fourth quarter. Quarterback Jack Zambardino (14-for-26, 193 yards, touchdown) was effective finding top receivers Alexi Trapotsis (six catches, 92 yards) and Peter Harrison (four catches, 62 yards, TD), twice setting up Ori Forest (87 yards) for touchdown runs to pull within two-touchdown deficits by the half and the end of third quarter.

But Stoneham’s offensive line created too many big holes, and its running backs were too quick off broken tackles to contain.

After fumbling on their opening drive, the Spartans scored touchdowns on seven of their last eight possessions. Kilty, Tran and Dylan Brown (58 rushing yards, TD) combined for eight rushes over 20 yards, often running up the middle and bouncing to the outside.

Tran got the scoring started with a 78-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, then followed with a 47-yard TD run on his next carry in the second quarter. Kilty scored from 74 yards out early in the third quarter to build a 28-7 lead, then added a 21-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

His last two carries were 44- and 48-yard touchdowns.

“All we’re really looking, trying to do is beat up that defense,” Kilty said. “It’s a tough offense. It’s hard, it’s tough. … We love it. We practice it every day, we make sure we’re spick and span with all of it, and it’s just dirty yards.”

“I give full credit to our line,” Tran added. “They were blocking (well) all night. … They do it, they move stuff.”

Defensively, Stoneham forced Arlington to fumble and to turn it over on downs twice.