Groundskeepers work all day to erase graffiti damage to Azle football field

The image of a green and black hornet painted on the 50-yard line at Azle High School’s football field was back in its place in time for Friday night’s football game, a school district official said.

Someone using blue spray paint covered the hornet in graffiti late Thursday or early Friday, school Superintendent Ray Lea said.

The grounds crew discovered the damage about 6 a.m. Friday.

School officials had not developed any suspects by Friday afternoon, Lea said.

“We have been looking at the available video footage but don't have any leads yet as to who might have done this,” Lea said.

Friday’s game was between Azle and Boswell High School, which is in the Eagle Mountain Saginaw school district. Officials there were checking to see if anyone in their district was involved, Lea said.

Members of the Boswell Student Council have reached out to the student council at Azle, and they planned to advocate for sportsmanship on Friday, Lea said. Azle students were also collecting money at Friday’s game that would be donated to a charity in the name of Boswell, Lea said.

Boswell and Azle have long been football rivals, Lea said.

“This used to happen at schools a long time ago, but I have not seen it recently,” Lea said. “It was upsetting to see, but now, it's back like it was new.”

Azle police did not immediately return phone calls Friday.

This story was originally published September 25, 2015 at 7:20 PM with the headline "Groundskeepers work all day to erase graffiti damage to Azle football field."