Texas High School Players Ejected After Cheap Shotting Referee [VIDEO]

The issue of violence in high school sports is well documented. Violence against players, coaches and even referees is a hot button issue across the country. The latest example comes from a Texas high school football game, as reported by Ben Baby of the San Antonio News-Express: Two players were ejected after deliberately hitting an official. The first player knocks the official to the ground with a blindside hit. The second player then spears him

“This incident is extremely disturbing, not the sportsmanlike behavior we teach students at Northside ISD, we are cooperating with the UIL investigation. We will handle this incident on Tuesday morning and schedule a due process hearing, which will include formal interview with coaching staffing, the students themselves and other athletes – anyone who has knowledge of whatever was seen.” -- Northside Independent School District spokesman Pascual Gonzalez

The two players are from John Jay High School in San Antonio, who lost 15-9 at Marble Falls on Friday night. According to reports, two other Jay players were ejected before the play in which the official was hit. Pascual Gonzalez, a spokesman for the Northside Independent School District, told a local television station that video of the incident was "extremely disturbing" and there will be an investigation. Reports also state that Marble Falls coach Matt Green acknowledged and apology from Jay coach Gary Gutierrez and that he believed that Gutierrez in no way condoned the behavior.

Northside ISD has reportedly suspended the two players from the team and from school. Possibility remains that more actions may be taken by not only the school district, but by the league, the official's association, and possibly by the referee himself, who was reported to be considering pressing charges.