Maniuplating the playing field is done in all sports. Baseball teams in particular will adjust how they cut the grass, how soft the batter's box is if they're using a knuckleball pitcher in the game, etc. Some very interesting stories on the internet about it.
I know of one HS in Tennessee that flooded its field to try to slow down a faster team during a playoff game in 2007. TSSAA told them to either get it playable in two days, or the game would go to the opponent's field. They dumped tractor trailer loads of sand on the field to try to make it better (it still sucked, I was on the field at the end of the game and sank in to my ankles). They literally destroyed their own field - just to lose anyway.