UIL suspends John Jay players for ref attack in Marble Falls game

AUSTIN — On Oct. 15, the State Executive Committee of the University Interscholastic League handed down a one-year suspension against two San Antonio John Jay High School football players who targeted an official during the Sept. 4 game at Marble Falls.

The committee suspended the two players, Michael Moreno, 17, and Victor Rojas, 15, from all UIL activities for the remainder of the 2015-16 school year. This is the remaining eligibility for Moreno.

Before Rojas’ eligibility can be reinstated in future years, he must appear before the committee and make that request.

Along with the two players, the committee suspended John Jay High School assistant coach Mack Breed for the remainder of the school year. The committee also issued a public reprimand and two years’ probation.

During the investigation after the blindside attack on game official Robert Watts in the waning minutes of the Marble Falls-John Jay game, the players told officials the assistant coach directed them to get back at the referee for allegedly making racial slurs. Watts has denied those claims.

Since the incident, Breed resigned from John Jay.

The executive committee also issued a public reprimand to John Jay High School head football coach Gary Gutierrez and placed him on two years’ probation.

Watts told Marble Falls police in September that he continued to suffer physical repercussions from the attack.

During the game, Marble Falls was running out the clock in John Jay territory. The Mustangs called a running play up the middle, but as Watts was watching the play unfold in front of him, one of the Jay players raced at him from behind, put his shoulder down and slammed into the referee.

The man fell to the ground. As he was on the ground, the second player struck him again.

The actual play happened several yards from the referee and the two Jay players.

Roberts ejected two players from the game for the hit, but at the time, misidentified one, resulting in a John Jay player not involved in the hit being thown out of the game.

On the next play, when the Marble Falls High School quarterback took a knee to run out the clock, the Jay player who had attacked the referee and was still in the game, then hit the quarterback, drawing another flag.

The Texas Association of Sports Officials is completing its investigation into the allegations that Watts used racial slurs. The executive committee referred the results of this investigation to the UIL Sports Officials Committee.

Watts testified during the committee and denied using any racial slurs.

The Marble Falls police also are investigating the event for possible criminal charges against Rojas and Moreno.

editor@thepicayune.com