Police in Marble Falls issued a statement Monday confirming they have launched an investigation into the attack on the referee, who was hit by two San Antonio high school players during a play.
Neither of the players nor the official were identified by investigators, according to the Associated Press.
The incident occurred in the fourth quarter of Friday night’s game between John Jay High School from San Antonio and Marble Falls High School in Marble Falls, around 60 miles northwest of Austin.
Police said they were reviewing video of the two players striking the referee, one from behind and one while the official was on the ground.
The illegal hits came a few plays after two John Jay players were ejected from the game in separate penalties, the AP said.
John Jay lost the game, 15-9.
Both players have been suspended
“I’ve coached 14 years and I’ve never seen anything like it,” Marble Falls Coach Matt Green told the San Antonio Express-News newspaper, the AP said.
Pascual Gonzalez of the Northside Independent School District, which includes John Jay, said his district also was investigating and would be conducting a due process hearing into the incident.
“It is not the good sportsmanlike behavior that we teach students,” Gonzales said.
The incident occurred as Marble Falls was trying to run out the clock.
Before the referee was hit, two Jay players had been ejected on previous plays.
Green said John Jay Coach Gary Gutierrez apologized after the game.
Austin Football Officials Association secretary Wayne Elliott told the AP that the referee was “very upset” and wanted to press charges against the players.
“The first thing we want is that those two kids never play football again,” Elliott said.
Elliott also refused to release the referee’s name.
Kate Hector of the University Interscholastic League, which governs primary and high school sports in Texas, said her organization was cooperating with the school and law enforcement investigations.
