High school players say coach told them to hit referee

The high school players responsible for hitting a referee when his back was turned during a football game last week say they were just doing what they were told by a coach.

Michael Moreno and Victor Rojas of the John Jay High School football team in the San Antonio area said the coach told them earlier this month to go after referee Robert Watts because the coach believed Watts had missed calls and was using racial slurs on the field.

“While on the sideline he pulled me and another player over, and I quote ‘you need to hit him,’” Moreno said Friday on “Good Morning America.”

Moreno and Rojas, who have been suspended from the team and school, didn’t name the coach, but assistant coach Mack Breed has been placed on paid leave.

Video of the incident shows the two boys ignoring an ongoing play and running directly at the official, with one player knocking Watts down with a tackle and the other diving at him on the ground.

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Through his attorney, Watts denied the accusations that he used racial slurs. Police in suburban Marble Falls are still conducting a criminal investigation into the incident. The county attorney has yet to determine if two players should face charges in the incident, according to their attorney.

“You can’t just do that because of something that you were told,” Moreno said. “I’m ready to face my consequences ... I am greatly sorry for this and I regret it greatly and just hope that people can change their minds about us.”

Follow Matt Wilhalme on Twitter @mattwilhalme.

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