Several high school students have been identified as suspects in connection with vandalizing the Lawrence High School football field.

The vandalism, discovered Thursday morning, included a racial epithet and a phallic symbol outlined in shaving cream on the field. The vandals also reportedly egged a section of bleachers and moved athletic equipment.

School officials and police made “quick work” of finding those believed to be responsible, Lawrence Police Sgt. Trent McKinley said Thursday afternoon.

“There were several suspects, and they have been identified through an investigation that the school resource officers at both schools worked together on,” he said.

McKinley said he could not release more details, including what school the students attend, at this time.

However, the graffiti appears to include a clue.

Following the ‘L’ on the sweater of the Lawrence High School Chesty Lion painted on the field, someone added ‘FS’ in shaving cream.

The rivalrous Lawrence High versus Lawrence Free State High football game is Friday night.

The shaving cream was cleaned up before noon.

Even though there did not appear to be permanent damage to the facility, McKinley said those responsible for vandalizing the field could face criminal charges as well as disciplinary action from the school district.

There’s a history of pranks between the two high schools since Lawrence split into a two-school town, but a number of football players and coaches felt a line was crossed with this act of vandalism.

“I think the biggest thing is that I think it goes beyond a prank,” LHS football coach Dirk Wedd said. “That’s the thing that we need to address to our kids is that a rivalry is cool, but those are your friends over there, too.”

“This was hate,” Wedd added.

Several Lawrence High football players said they realize the words included in the vandalism don’t reflect the view for the majority of Free State students. Free State’s student council is urging everyone to wear purple for the first half of the football game Friday to unite against racial hatred.

Yet, this latest incident has Free State football coach Bob Lisher ready for all pranks to end between the schools.

“I’m tired of these doggone pranks,” Lisher said. “I just wish the kids would let the teams play. The teams respect each other. The teams want to get after each other. They’ll shake hands after; they’re friends. I just wish it would come to that instead of these pranks year in and year out. I’m sick of it.”

Earlier Thursday, Lawrence superintendent Rick Doll issued a statement saying that the people responsible were likely “a handful of individuals who showed extremely bad taste and poor judgement.”

“In particular, we condemn and are disgusted by the racial epithet included in the vandalism,” Doll said. “Their actions do not reflect the student bodies of our high schools, the positive relationship that exists between the two high schools or the respect our students have for equity and racial diversity.”