The only similarity between last year's Frederick -Tuscarora football matchup and the one played Saturday was the lopsided score.The hard-hitting action stayed on the field this year -- a welcome change from the 2008 game, when several fights broke out in the Tuscarora High School stadium, forcing sheriff's deputies and administrators to clear the facility for the remaining minutes of the game.
Saturday's game at Frederick High School had six Frederick police officers keeping an eye out for trouble. School administration and police were on no higher alert than usual.
"I think everything is going very well and will continue going very well," said Frederick High principal Denise Fargo-Devine.
Frederick lost 38-14 in the first home game of the season. Last year Frederick lost 40-6.
At halftime, Fargo-Devine seemed to be worried more about the Cadets scoring more than the chance of a fight breaking out in the stands.
She said the afternoon start time of the game, compared with last year's night game, and the layout of the Frederick stadium made circumstances different from last year.
Both high schools investigated last year's unprecedented incident, where four Tuscarora students were eventually disciplined. The Frederick County Sheriff's Office made no arrests.
Down on the field Saturday, Frederick Detective Thomas Tokarz said it was business as usual.
"We do this every game," he said.
Police were posted in the stands, by the concession and gate area and near the playing field.
Frederick police were working the game Saturday because of the school's location inside the city. If games are played at county schools, deputies are used for security.
Frederick County Public Schools pays for the time of the officers from either police agency when they work sporting events.
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