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The Tuscarora High football team is having a season that could shape up as its best ever.

The Titans have the wins required to claim the right as top Frederick city school. And at 4-1 overall, they're only a win away from matching their highest season win total, along with a steady course for making the playoffs.

So what's so dangerous about Tuscarora's trip 7 p.m. to Walkersville (1-4) this Friday? According to Titans' head coach Shawn Carey, it's what's in focus.

"One week at a time," Carey said. "We don't worry about next week until we get to it."

In the Titans' four wins, they've averaged a whopping 40.5 points per game, while allowing only 17.0 points. And the defensive average is only recently inflated – of the 68 points allowed in wins; half are from Thomas Johnson this past week.

The one loss on Tuscarora's record; Middletown's 20-0 blanking which caught an unfocused Titans' unit off-guard after their win over Frederick.

The solution of staying focused will be put to the test this week, as the Titans have a laundry list of distractions.

They're coming off their first-ever win over Thomas Johnson, giving them a 2-0 record over Frederick city schools. It also gives them the current hold on the No. 3 playoff seed in the Class 3A West region.

And if the Titans are not looking in the past, looking too far ahead is tempting, too.

Week 7 gives the Titans a trip to Linganore, where a win would equal near total vindication that this year's program is legitimate.

Week 8 has Urbana coming to Tuscarora. Even though playoff standings are a possible motivation, the Titans will probably get more from the potential of revenge – they've never beaten the Hawks, who introduced Tuscarora to varsity play with a 70-0 blowout in 2004. Meanwhile, Urbana is showing itself to be vulnerable, after a loss to Westminster.

It's three weeks of over-the-top football, which makes it hard to look at the lowly Lions.

"The thing is, it's hard to prepare for them," Carey said. "In the film, they've done so many different things, so we don't know what they'll do against us."

Right now, Walkersville doesn't mind being under the radar. The Lions picked up a Week 4 win over Brunswick, but lost to Smithsburg 35-23 last Friday. It's a role they've taken on before, stinging teams caught looking the other way.

"The war is going to be won on at the line," Carey said. "They've got some big linemen, and our offensive line needs to produce."

Look for Dominic Clarke and Jakarie Jackson to be the benefactors of the line's production. Against the Patriots, Clarke upped his season total to seven touchdowns.