Texas HS football players claim blindsided ref used racial slurs

Students from John Jay High School in San Antonio told investigators a football referee was directing racial slurs at players before he was blindsided Friday night and also claim an assistant coach may have suggested the attack.

Students, coaches, and game officials are being questioned about what motivated two John Jay High School defensive backs to blindside a referee during vs Marble Falls High School, northwest of Austin, last Friday.

Northside ISD said on Tuesday the incident is being treated as an assault on a school official. The district is not releasing the students' names because they are minors.

"The incident is shameful to us," said Northside ISD Superintendent Dr. Brian Woods. "It in no way reflects what we stand for."

The University Interscholastic League and Northside ISD are conducting an investigation into the incident, which has captured attention around the United States.

Northside ISD said the two players could be placed in a juvenile justice school depending on the outcome of a hearing by the district.

"They players were feeling lots of frustration by what they perceived to be missed or wrong calls by the refs," said Pascual Gonzalez, Northside ISD Executive Director of Communications. "The students allege that an assistant coach said 'that guy needs to pay for cheating us' or words to that effect."

The assistant coach under suspicion is Mack Breed, 29, who is now on paid administrative leave.

Northside ISD said it is filing a formal complaint to the Texas Association of Sports Officials because of the alleged racial slurs.

Marble Falls police said Monday they were conducting an investigation into the incident, but no arrests had been made.

A UIL State Executive Committee will meet Wednesday to discuss the incident and the current state of the investigation. That committee can impose sanctions in addition to whatever Northside ISD decides.