ICYMI: High School Football Player Assaults Referee After Ejection

Sports, in general, are a bit of a peculiar thing.  We arbitrarily assign ourselves an organization to root for, and do with some bastard form of patriotism until they slight us into revoking our fandom, or we move.

It’s an experience not unlike politics, but with a lot more light-hearted jollies…at least most of the time.

The unequivocal pinnacle of the experience of the sporting world are the moment in which we witness some divine act of sportsmanship.  Where an opposing team helps carry an injured player across home plate, even though the kindness will cost them the game.  Or a runner, turning back within sight of the finish line to assure that his competitors can find closure.

If those moments represent the zenith of sport, then the scene that played out on an American high school football field this week is the silty floor of the Marianas Trench of depravity.

The Edinburg High School football player who ran onto the field during a game to hit a referee Thursday night is now facing an assault charge.

Emmanuel Duron, 18, was charged with Class A assault around 11 a.m. Friday morning during an arraignment at the Edinburg Municipal Court.

A cash surety bond of $10,000 was set for the football player. According to jail records, he posted the bond later Friday through O. Castaneda Bail Bonds. He was released later in the evening, records show.

The incident in question occurred during a football game between Edinburg High and PSJA High at Richard R. Flores Stadium in Edinburg, where the referee, Fred Gracia, ejected Duron from the game on a play that drew flags for roughing the passer after the play was dead, and for exchanging words with the official.

The moment was caught on video, and is wholly disturbing to watch.

The referee was evaluated by onsite first responders and completed officiating the game.