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Vince Ahearn remembers how crisply his team played in last year's season opener against Tuscarora. It was close to flawless execution, the Frederick High School football coach said of what was then a 21-0 Cadets' victory. "That was a very good team on the other side and we couldn't ask more of our kids as far as the execution and the level of intensity," Ahearn said. "You talk about getting close to a perfect game, our guys did that last year." Now, one year later, everything about that game makes Ahearn and his players grimace. The painful sting has not subsided after the outcome of the game was reversed because Frederick used an ineligible player. Ahearn called it a clerical error on his part. He reported the mistake to the MPSSAA and Tuscarora was awarded a 2-0 forfeit victory that not only spoiled Frederick 's best start in school history, but ultimately denied the Cadets a postseason berth, despite an 8-2 record. It's a memory the Cadets ultimately hope to bury Friday night when they open the season at Tuscarora in a highly anticipated crosstown matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. between two teams expected to challenge for playoff spots in their respective divisions. "We remind the kids that the score of last year's game was 2-0 and that we have not beaten Tuscarora," Ahearn said. Tuscarora's memories of the encounter are just as grim. No coach or player on the team really regards the inherited forfeit as a victory. "Last year, we kind of took them lightly. We didn't think they were going to win and they came out and whopped us," said senior receiver Dominic Clarke, a Ohio State recruit. "This year, that can't happen. We are not going to be a laughingstock. You are going to hear about it for the rest of the year if you lose. They are our crosstown rivals. They'll talk about it during basketball season, the whole rest of the year." Coach Shawn Carey said the Titans were not yet proficient in their newly installed spread offense at the start of last season. "That was a huge transition from what we had run in the past," Carey said. "So, when we got in there (against Frederick ), there were only four or five plays that worked. Things we couldn't anticipate happening did happen." Tuscarora is more comfortable in all aspects of its game this season and the Titans, with 16 starters back in the fold, are expected to challenge for the MVAL Chesapeake Division title this season. New quarterback Josh Marshall will have weapons like Clarke and senior receiver Jakarie Jackson at his disposal. Frederick , on the other hand, is looking to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2004 with largely a new cast of skill-position players. Junior Deon Walker takes over for graduate Andre April at quarterback. Senior running back Josh Jackson, a returning player, is nursing a hamstring injury and is questionable for the game. The Cadets return 15 starters, mostly along the offensive and defensive lines. "It's going to be hard to duplicate what we did last year against Tuscarora," Ahearn said. "As a coach, going into a game like this, it does make you a little nervous."
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