EDINBURG, Texas - A Texas high school football player who ran onto the field and blindsided a referee who had ejected him from the game was charged with assault Friday, and his team has been taken out of the playoffs.
Senior defensive lineman Emmanuel Duron of Edinburg High School appeared in municipal court after being charged with class A assault, a misdemeanor, according to court administrator Maribel Velasquez. A judge set a $10,000 bond for the 18-year-old Duron, who remained jailed Friday afternoon. Jail records did not list an attorney for Duron.
Duron came running from the sideline after the referee had announced the ejection, slamming into the official during the first half of the zone play-in game Thursday night against Pharr-San Juan-Alamo in Edinburg, which is located more than 200 miles south of San Antonio.
Duron was escorted from the stadium by police officers. The Monitor of McAllen reported the referee, identified as Fred Gracia by the newspaper, was evaluated for a concussion and a shoulder injury by medical personnel at the stadium.
The game resumed after a delay, with Edinburg winning 35-21 to advance. However, the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District said Friday it had decided to remove the team from the playoffs after the attack.
District officials said in a release that "appropriate disciplinary action" would be taken after an investigation.
"We extend a sincere apology to the referee and his family. On behalf of the Edinburg CISD Board of Trustees and administration, we apologize to the athletes, staff, and our school community," the district wrote.
The Texas Association of Sports Officials said in a release it is also investigating the incident.
"Unfortunately, this type of blindsided assault on an official while working on the field is not new to Texas Football," the association's statement read.
Duron, who was the District 31-6A defensive player of the year last season, is also the Bobcats' kicker and punter and a star wrestler for the school.
AP photo by Joel Martinez / Edinburg (Texas) High School football player Emmanuel Duron is escorted out of the stadium by police after attacking a referee during his team's game against Pharr-San Juan-Alamo on Thursday night. Duron has been charged with class A assault, a misdemeanor, and his school district has removed the team from the playoffs despite winning the game.