Another Texas Football Ref Struck by High School Player

For the second time in as many weeks, Texas high school football fans watched a football referee struck by a player. This second incident of violence took place in the same city as last week’s shocking assault of a game official by two players.

Zeke Cardenas, a senior at St. Anthony High School, allegedly shoved a game referee moments after the referee threw a flag against Cardenas, according to a Fox Sports report. That penalty stemmed from the senior allegedly shoving an opponent after the end of a play. Cardenas’ teammates quickly restrained him. The officials ejected Cardenas from the game.

While not clearly as violent as the previous week’s assault where one player struck a referee from behind and and another followed-up with a seeming spear to the downed official, this week’s situation seems to reveal a growing disrespect for authority on the field.

Breitbart TV reported on the previous week’s game between John Jay and Marble Falls high schools. Near the end of that game two players can be seen on video, targeting an official. The first player ran into the back of the referee and knocked him down. The second player jumped on top of him after he fell. The players claimed the official had made inflammatory remarks directed towards them as the reason for the attack, Fox Sports reported.

WISTV10, reportes that the two players from John Jay High School could face criminal assault charges in this incident. The two John Jay players said the official directed racial slurs at them and said that is why they retaliated. However, other sources claim that John Jay coaches expressed displeasure with the game’s officiating crew and one of the assistants, Mack Breed, allegedly said the “ref should pay for cheating us.” He has since been placed on administrative leave and the two students are suspended from school and placed in a county-run “juvenile justice” school.

wistv.com – Columbia, South Carolina

The game’s umpire who was the victim of the attack said the racial slur allegations are untrue. “I like to keep my officiating quiet,” Watts told Texashsschoolfootball.com. “Libel and slander have been committed against me. I will be contacting the appropriate people soon and any statement from me will come at a later date.”

St. Anthony’s football coach, Kevin Smisek, would not comment on the newest assault on a referee. Instead, he directed questions about the incident to the University of the Incarnate Word as they oversee the high school’s activities. They have not been available to respond to questions.

Bob Price serves as senior political news contributor for Breitbart Texas and a member of the original Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX.