Video Shows Star High School Football Player Assaulting Referee After Ejection (UPDATE)

Video shows Emmanuel Duron, the defensive lineman for Edinburg High in Texas, tackling the ref in the second quarter. Police escorted the teen off the field.

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Image via Getty/Ben Hasty/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle

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UPDATED 12/15, 10:15 a.m. ET: Duron has been suspended from all high school sports for the remainder of the school year, TMZ reports. Since he's a senior, he'll likely never play another game of high school football again.

See original story below.

A high school football game turned ugly Thursday night, when a star athlete ran onto the field and assaulted one of the officials.

Video shows Emmanuel Duron, a senior defensive tackle for Edinburg High in Texas, running toward referee Fred Gracia and tackling him before other athletes rushed to intervene in a game against Pharr-San Juan-Alamo North. According to Valley Central, Duron was ejected from the game moments before the attack. He was reportedly ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct and a late hit on Pharr-San Juan-Alamo's quarterback.

Local police escorted Duron—the reigning District 31-6A Defensive Player of the Year—out of the stadium shortly after. According to The Monitor, the official was carted off the field taken to a nearby ambulance, where he was evaluated for a possible concussion and shoulder injury. 

Duron also served as his team's kicker and punter, and was expected to compete for a state wrestling title this year. It's unclear if the student-athlete will face any criminal charges.

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