High School Football Rivalry Heats Up Early

3 teens charged with burning artificial turf

MIDDLETOWN, Md. -- A Maryland high school football rivalry got a jump on the season with an expensive prank over the weekend.

Three students from Brunswick High School were accused of setting fire to the artificial turf football field at Middletown High School.

The 17-year-old students were arrested early Wednesday morning, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal's office. They've been charged as juveniles with first-degree malicious burning and malicious destruction of property.

The teens poured a flammable substance on a section of the field and set it on fire Saturday morning, investigators said. It caused about $20,000 in damage, which wasn't discovered until Monday.

The suspects were released to the custody of their parents.

The field was installed just last year at a cost of $850,000.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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