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Special circumstances awarded Tuscarora High's football team a forfeit victory over Frederick last season. Special teams earned the hosts a win over their intra-city rivals on Friday evening.

Accounting for 19 points, the Titans' rode their special teams to a 40-6 drubbing of their cross town rivals in both outfits' respective season openers.

"We practice our special teams a lot," Titans head coach Shawn Carey said. "We've been giving them a lot of reps and they came through for us."

Wasting no time, Titans' returner extraordinaire Dominic Clarke, an Ohio State recruit, took the opening kick 86 yards straight through the heart of the Cadets' coverage for six. Quarterback-place kicker Josh Marshall added the extra point as Tuscarora took a lead it would not relinquish.

"I just hope I do it again next week," Clarke said of his kickoff return. "That's what really set the tone and gave us the momentum."

Winning the field position battle, Tuscarora pinned Frederick on the verge of their own 20-yard line. On fourth and 13, Frederick punter Gilbert Kim was forced to kick the loose ball out of the end zone for a safety following an overshot snap at 11:15 in the second quarter.

The Cadets managed to get their punt off on their next possession. Unfortunately it landed in the hands of Jakarie Jackson who took in 58 yards to pay dirt with 9:25 remaining in the first half. Marshall snuck in for two as the Titans increased their advantage to 17-0.

Barely a minute later, Frederick botched another snap, obliging Kim to boot the ball out of the end zone again for another safety and a 19-0 Tuscarora lead.

Clarke, along with teammates Kevin Johnson and Carrington Jones each snagged an interception each. Jones led the team with 10 tackles. Marshall accounted for 148 total yards while passing for a pair of touchdowns and running for another. Jackson and Fabian Gonzalez both caught touchdowns.

Friday was the opening night of what the Titans are calling their "Payback Tour." For years, the Titans have been on the short on the nights like Friday. While intend on being respectful, they have say they have some scores to settle.

Highlights were few and far between for the Cadets. Making his first varsity start, senior quarterback Deon Walker had to be taken off the field on a stretcher and left in an ambulance after suffering a hip injury. Josh Jackson recorded Frederick's lone score on a four-yard scamper in the final minute before intermission.

The game was marred by a semi-combustible climate in the stands. A fight broke out in the home teams' bleachers midway during the first half. With the tension mounting Tuscarora principal Kathleen Schlappal, who was attending her first athletic event at the school, and the Frederick County Sherriff's Department decided to remove all spectators from the stadium during the third quarter. Many attendees complained about being separated from their families during the evacuation. Numerous officers, including two with German Shepherds, were on site. Schlappal said she was saddened by the incident and how a few individuals ruined the evening for so many.