Texas high school referee attacked by player after ejection

Not much garners more attention than high school playoff football in Texas, but on Thursday night, the result in one game was overshadowed by an ugly incident on the field.

Edinboro High School senior Emmanuel Duron was flagged for a late hit on the quarterback in the second quarter of a playoff game against Pharr-San Juan-Alamo High School. Duron complained to referee Fred Garcia after the play, drawing an unsportsmanlike conduct flag and an ejection from the game. While the penalties were being marched off, Duron stormed the field and slammed Garcia to the turf.

Garcia was able to leave the field on his own power and was attended to by paramedics for shoulder and head injuries, according to The Monitor of McAllen, Texas. He did not return and the crew completed the game shorthanded. Garcia is in his 27th season with the Texas Association of Sports Officials.

Edinboro won to advance in the playoffs, but no one is really talking about that. Update: The Edinboro Consolidated Independent School District has decided the school will withdraw from the playoffs.

The Monitor reports Duron was escorted out of the stadium without handcuffs by police that were working security for the game. Those police officers and the Edinboro coach declined to comment.

Duron was suspended several games in the 2019-20 soccer season in what is reported to be “a similar incident.” He is a senior, so he has already played his last game at the scholastic level.