UPDATE: Maize and Maize South will play football starting in 2014, it was announced Wednesday.

The schools were placed in the same district, along with Bishop Carroll and Valley Center. District alignments in football are reconfigured every two years.

PREVIOUS STORY: Students were taken by surprise after the announcement that Maize will move from a

Class 6A to 5A in football next season.

“A pro about the class change is that it will be easier to make it into playoffs,” varsity football player Elijah West, junior, said. “The con is that competition won’t be as hard as it is now.”

Every year schools turn in a student count and new classifications are made by the Kansas State High School Activities Association. 6A and 5A classes have 32 schools in each while 4A has 64 schools.

Maize’s student count has fallen since the opening of South.

Football classifications are set every two years. The current 6A classification for Maize was decided in 2011.

“It doesn’t really affect students and student-athletes that much,” district athletic director Marc Haught said. “Athletes will play a different set of schools, but it will not affect them in other ways.”

Students have expressed excitement via Twitter about a rivalry game between Maize and Maize South because the class change makes both schools 5A.

“The only way we will play Maize South is if both schools are placed in the same district. If not, the only way Maize South

and Maize will meet each other are in league and regional competitions,” Haught said.

The question will be answered when district football alignments are announced Wednesday.