Texas prep football player bowls over referee after ejection

A Texas high school football player charged onto the field and bowled over a referee Thursday night because he was angry after being ejected from the game.

Senior defensive lineman Emmanuel Duron of Edinburg High School came running from the sideline area after referee Fred Gracia announced the ejection, slamming into the official during the first half of the zone play-in game against Pharr-San Juan-Alamo.

Duron was escorted from the stadium by police officers.

The Monitor of McAllen reported that Gracia, 58, was evaluated for a concussion and a potential shoulder injury by medical personnel at the stadium.

In a statement Friday, the Texas Association of Sports Officials lamented Duron's "vicious and deliberate assault" on Gracia.

"Unfortunately, this type of blind-sided assault on an official while working on the field is not new to Texas Football," the statement read. "Though this latest incident is only hours old, TASO has begun our investigation and started collaboration with the [University Interscholastic League] to bring this matter to a suitable disposition."

The game resumed after a delay, with Edinburg winning 35-21 to advance to the playoffs.

"I can't release any information on that, and I apologize for that," Edinburg High coach JJ Lejia said of the incident, according to The Monitor. "I hope you understand. I want this [moment] to be about our program and all the other kids we had on the field tonight."

The District 31-6A Defensive Player of the Year last season, Duron also is the Bobcats' kicker and punter and a star wrestler.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.