GONZALES — A school rivalry tradition in Ascension Parish is drawing attention from law enforcement after some pranks crossed into vandalism ahead of the annual East Ascension versus St. Amant football game.

Video shows what homeowners believe to be teenagers spraying a camera and then spraying a home in Ascension Parish. The incidents stem from a rivalry tradition that dates back four decades.

Donovan Jackson with the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office said the rivalry is deeply rooted in the community but that there are clear limits.

"It's something that's part of our culture and our history here with the rivalry," Jackson said, "but also I want kids to know and parents to know that not everybody wants to participate in that type of activity. Not everybody wants to go outside and clean their home with toilet paper, wet toilet paper everywhere. So just be mindful of that. And if you have groups that you can, you know, kind of join in and parents are receptive to it, then that's fine. But let's just make sure that we keep things at a minimum."

Over the weekend, the sheriff's office charged a group of teenagers with criminal mischief and damage to property. Jackson said spray painting someone's home or shooting up their property with a paintball gun also qualifies as criminal damage to property.

"Over the weekend, we had an incident, and we had to charge a group of kids with criminal mischief and damage to property," Jackson said. "So it's something that we absolutely will not tolerate. But I do want to say this. I mean, that's not something that happens all the time. I mean, most of our families in our community, our students, they understand that there's a certain level when it crosses over the line."

Resident Preston Johnson, who is from the Gonzales area, said he knows the tradition well and was ready for it. He has a daughter who is a senior and said he was on high alert.

"I got an alert from the camera. I saw them coming, I said, okay, I got them, let me get on them quick," Johnson said. "So I came around, I was in the truck, and I hit the button just to, you know, alert to him that I was aware of what was going on, and I kind of spooked him and, you know, got him away from there. But, you know, I just made a post just letting them know, look, it's all fun and games, just leave the boat out of it."

Johnson said toilet paper is manageable, but that damage to his property is where he draws the line.

"Toilet paper is fine. I mean, I can go out and pick up and clean up toilet paper," Johnson said. "It's just whenever they're just going too far with it, you know. But like I said, I was, I was out there and on alert, and I'm sure I'm gonna have to be on alert, you know, all week. So, you know, I'll be, I'll be looking for them."