HS football players who blindsided referee claim he used racial slurs: Report

The Northside Independent School District and the University Interscholastic League, investigating the two high school football players who violently took out a referee during a game in San Antonio last weekend, now, reportedly, have a racial undertones to consider.

Late in John Jay High School's 15-9 loss to Marble Hill, a Jay defensive back slammed into the back of Robert Watts, a 14-year officiating veteran. His teammate then drilled the ref as he was on the ground, leading with his helmet. 

An assistant coach for John Jay is alleged to have said, “this guy needs to pay for cheating us” before the two players appeared to target and intentionally hit Watts during Friday’s game.

Video of the disturbing incident was posted on YouTube:

Both players were ejected from the game and were later suspended from the team. The assistant coach, Mack Breed, has been placed on administrative leave

"The question of what instigated that is what we're trying to figure out," Northside ISD athletic director Stan Laing told Ben Baby of MySanAntonio.com, calling the incident "very disturbing."

Laing said the official allegedly directed a racial slur toward a player “eight or nine plays” before the incident during a brief verbal exchange between the two. Laing did not identify the player, but KENS 5 reported Sunday that the player is Moses Reynolds, who plays quarterback, wide receiver and free safety. Reynolds was playing quarterback when the official directed a racial slur at him.

Reynolds was later ejected for trying to throw a punch while playing on defense, but he didn’t hear another racial slur from the official. The official allegedly made a second racial slur after he was hit by the two players on the play that sparked the controversy.

“At this point, we can definitely say there were two” alleged racial slurs, Laing said. “But we’re still investigating that.”

Laing said that Northside has talked to Marble Falls to see if any of its players heard the alleged slurs and that Marble Falls reported back that the player said they had not.

.@NISD Superintendent Brian Woods: dist "heartbroken" over Fri's incident @John Jay/Marble Falls fball game @KENS5 pic.twitter.com/hY64EG8FtZ

— Rogelio Mares (@RogeliOnKens5) September 8, 2015

The players and coach are not the only ones headed for trouble. According to CNN, school officials also plan to file a complaint against Watts.