He and his teammates dreamed of a playoff season as upperclassmen. Edinburg's Emmanuel Duron, a senior at at the South Texas school, was ejected for a late hit and unsportsmanlike penalty against a Pharr-San Juan-Alamo player prior to tackling the official,. Vargas said he endured a hamstring injury in last Thursdays game but he was intent to recover in time for Fridays playoff contest. Edinburg (Tex.) The loss of this young life deeply saddens us, Jara said. Duron had been removed from the school's soccer team after he was involved in a similar incident on the soccer pitch. Miguel Farias, president of the Edinburg school district board, and interim superintendent Gilbert Garza Jr. addressed the matter Tuesday in a board meeting. Our districts leadership agrees with the committee also that such incidents are not acceptable and will not be tolerated. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2023 KTRK-TV. MaxPreps is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. 2022 UIL Texas Football State Championships 2022 Football Conference 6A D2, 38-28 (W) Edinburg vs. Pharr-San Juan-Alamo, Recap: Edinburg vs. Pharr-San Juan-Alamo 2022, Recap: Edinburg vs. Edinburg North 2022, Edinburg football highlights La Joya High School. Even the student who has apologized would admit that, UIL Executive Director Charles Breithaupt said (via the Monitor). 6-keys: media/spln/collegefootball/reg/free/stories, at In an interview with WFAA on Friday,. "It's so encouraging and amazing to hear some of the teachers that were so connected to her and to know how deeply impactful she was going to be," Paredes continued. Edinburg High won the Dec. 3 game but forfeited its spot in the playoffs. Battling for a spot in the playoffs, the Edinburg High Bobcats' 35-21 win over . The news release didnt provide details on what led to the students death. EDINBURG, Texas (KTRK) --. The Washington Post reported similar accusations from unnamed Edinburg players. Ultimately, their frustration is centered on the districts disciplinary measures. Duron apologized to teammates in their group chat Sunday, according to senior safety Andre Vargas, who said he would have preferred that the district penalize Duron rather than the entire team. In a match between Edinburg High School and Pharr-San Juan-Alamo, Edinburg's senior defensive lineman Emmanuel Duron ran onto the field and put a massive hit on 58-year-old referee Fred Gracia. Area coaches described him as an athlete with raw strength and kinetic intensity. I dont think we should be punished because we didnt do anything; we even tried to stop this, Vargas said. "We extend a sincere apology to the referee and his family. Last week it was still negotiating to play home games at an Atlanta soccer complex. (Joel Martinez/the Monitor/AP) Article Some players. Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on Twitter @Tom_Schad. In April, Gracia testified before a state legislative committee and supported a bill, signed into law in June, that prohibits Texas athletes who attack a referee from playing high school sports again, with certain exceptions. Gracia said he also faced the law as a younger man, spending 24 hours in jail after he was arrested on a drunken-driving charge in 1990. With grace from the ref, the player is seeking a new start. I dont want people judging me every single moment without knowing me, Durn said. You are a young man. Elijah Gorham, 17, is being remembered and mourned by . think critically about rapid advances in artificial intelligence, children experienced learning deficits during the Covid-19 pandemic, when students change their name, pronouns or gender expression at school, finishing fifth in the 2020 state tournament in the 220-pound class. NEW! Gonzalez, a Mexican-American, was born on May 23, 1946, in Edinburg, Texas, the only child of mother Dolia Gonzalez. His high school sports career was terminated. And how does a teenager begin again after facing nationwide disgust and cancellation? Does the athlete deserve a second chance? An enraged Duron sprinted back onto the field and rammed into Gracia, knocking over the 58-year-old official, who was taken to an ambulance and checked for a concussion. "We extend a sincere apology to the referee and his family," a district official said in a statement. Arney is described as an active student who was involved in multiple team and organizations at school such as soccer, swimming, orchestra, theater and debate. Cats make Regionals The board threatened severe punishment for Leija and the high school if any more infractions occur during the probationary period, including potentially disqualifying all of the school's athletic teams from postseason play. THE ORIGINAL INCIDENT: Edinburg forfeits high school football playoff spot after player attacks referee. "And I was looking forward to her scoring a goal this year.". Since 1995, three football players a year on average have died of heat stroke, most of them high schoolers, according to the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research, which tracks . The Clark County coroner identified the girl as Ashari Hughes, 16, and reported that a determination of her cause and manner of death was pending. Edinburg High School football player Emmanuel Duron made his first public comments after hitting a referee during a game on Dec. 3. A cash surety bound in the amount of $10,000 has been set for Duron. Edinburg, is a closely knit community which strongly emphasizes the value of providing a good education. Houston pitmaster goes viral after hilarious TV interview, Principal fired for reading 'I Need a New Butt!' Paredes was one of the many staff members at the vigil reflecting on the loss. Gracia told Durn not to talk to him. I had never seen Coach like that, said Cruz, the senior linebacker. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. His actions were inexcusable.. In what were reportedly his first public comments since his act of violence made national headlines, a Texas high school football player offered an apology Monday. Had the officials at halftime said, You know what, its a forfeit, were disqualifying the team right now, go home, I would have taken that better than the officials letting them play the second half knowing that youre going to disqualify them the next day, said Frank Coronado, father of Frankie Coronado, a senior tackle on the team. Farias said the boards hand was forced by the University Interscholastic League, the states governing athletic body. Kim Dacey. A Texas high school football game took a sudden turn on Thursday when a player who'd been ejected ran onto the field and slammed into the referee. Edinburg's stats have been entered for the 48-29 win @ Mission on 10/7/2022 7:00 PM. Edinburg's Emmanuel Duron is pulled from the field by coaching staff after charging a referee during a high school football zone play-in game against Pharr-San Juan-Alamo on Thursday, Dec . Senior defensive lineman Emmanuel Duron of Edinburg . Desert Oasis High School Principal Ian Salzman said in an email that campus staff members immediately provided medical aid after Hughes collapsed, until paramedics arrived during the schools home game against Valley High School, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. They wanted to see what I can do in a playoff atmosphere, in a big-game situation, and I wont be able to show them that fully because they took us out.. Michael Levenson and Neil Vigdor contributed reporting. A Texas high school football player charged onto the field and bowled over a referee Thursday night, angered after being ejected from the game. "We all prayed for a miracle to happen for you to be saved. The Edinburg school district announced the day after the game that it would withhold the team from the playoffs in response to defensive end Emmanuel Duron knocking over referee Fred Gracia. Roger Clemens makes surprise appearance at Astros' Spring Training, This is how astronauts see Houston, Texas Gulf from space with unaided eyes, Astros GM Dana Brown sees bright future for top prospect Drew Gilbert. The Texas high school football player who tackled a referee at a game Thursday night has beenjailed on an assault charge, according to online jail records. Students and staff gathered Wednesday evening at a vigil for Arney. "The district has decided to remove the Edinburg High School football team from the playoffs after an unexpected incident involving a student that occurred during a football game on December 3, 2020," the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District later announced. My heart and my mind say yes, Gracia said about continuing. Ten months earlier, he had shoved a referee in a soccer match and been suspended from Edinburg Highs team. The video played again and again, and he watched with seeming detachment, as if he were seeing someone else. Report: Big 12 in recent contact with Pac-12 schools, Rules committee proposes change to speed up games, Saban unhappy over proposed permanent rivals, USC coach Lincoln Riley builds the perfect QB. Edinburgs Emmanuel Duron was charged with Class A assault for this Dec. 3 attack on referee Fred Gracia. Its very important that this young man have the counseling that he needs, and you have done that and will continue to do that, UIL committee chair Mike Motheral said during the meeting, according to Hinojosa. The Lady Hounds (29-5) will face the Hearne Eagles . Jeff Ehling breaks down everything leading up to the moment Edinburg high school football player Emmanuel Duron attacked a 58-year-old referee during a game. quarterback. It is operated by the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District along with Edinburg North High School, Robert Vela High School, and Johnny G. Economedes High School.It has enrolled 2,927 students and 175 staff, with 35% . Good luck to you., Washingtons revival is being driven by the energy of its young players, Ron Rivera says, Cowboys executive surprised at speculation team might fire Coach Mike McCarthy, A divisive Jets reporter, accused of bullying, loses his place on the beat. A high school football player in Texas was escorted from the game by police on Thursday. One person killed in downtown shootings in Matamoros. Shortly after players learned of their playoff removal, Edinburg Coach J.J. Leija confirmed the districts decision to the players during their midday athletics class elective, which, like all of their classes, is being conducted remotely. A Texas high school football player charged onto the field and attacked an official after being ejected from the game on Thursday night, according to The Monitor 's Andrew McCulloch. Durn and his family. We could all use a little bit more positivity this year.. The Edinburg High School football team has been removed from the playoffs, the school district announced Friday morning, after the senior Duron sprinted onto the field and rammed an. On 10/20, the Edinburg varsity football team won their home conference game against La Joya (TX) by a score of 45-21. McCulloch continued, writing, "Referee has gotten up and is walking around under his own powerHard to see Duron, a senior, playing another game for the Bobcats win or lose after that incident.". It said in a statement to The Washington Post that it would not comment further on the incident involving Duron until its investigation was completed. Edinburg High School Senior Emmanuel Duron was seen knocking down Referee Fred Gracia . Maybe he should get some more time in jail.. On a third-down play, Duron burst through the line and was penalized for a late hit on the quarterback. Dec. 4, 2020 1:15 PM PT. He did not return to the game. According to the San Antonio Express-News' David Hinojosa, the school district suspended Duron from school for three days and put him in a behavioral intervention plan, which includes weekly counseling sessions. We applaud the Edinburg CISD administration for addressing this situation swiftly and taking appropriate action in removing themselves from the playoffs and for dealing with the student involved in the incident.. During the game between the Edinburg High Bobcats and the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo High Bears, Edinburg's Emmanuel Duron was ejected. Others arent always so lucky. He seemed positioned to be named again as the best defensive player in District 31-6A, whose teams play among Texass largest high schools. At the hearing, which was held via Zoom, the UIL also placed the school's football coach J.J. Leija on probation through the 2021-22 school year and all the school's UIL programs on two years probation through June 2023. Gracia, a 27-year referee, was evaluated for concussion symptoms and a shoulder injury in an on-site ambulance, according to the Monitor. (Joel Martinez/The Monitor via AP), Edinburg's Emmanuel Duron is escorted out of the stadium by police after charging a referee during a high school football zone play-in game against Pharr-San Juan-Alamo on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020, in Edinburg, Texas. It struck himhow the world knows in a matter of seconds, he said. They had no harsh words before the ejection, Gracia said, adding, I just announced it.. He was 18; people deserve a second chance, Richard Hinojosa, Gracias lawyer, said of Durn. We are a close-knit family at McHi and our heartfelt condolences go out to the Arney family at this most difficult time.. Video clips of the episode went viral, and Edinburg administrators quickly gave Duron a three-day suspension from school and barred him from any extracurricular activities for the rest of the academic year, per reports.