Texas high school football players who targeted referee say coach told them to

Published 9:44 am Friday, September 18, 2015

Assistant John Jay High School football coach Mack Breed has been placed on paid leave. 

The two Texas high school football players who blindsided a referee told ABC News Friday morning that they were simply acting on orders from the sideline, specifically from John Jay High School assistant coach Mack Breed.

According to Michael Moreno, Breed told he and Victor Rojas “You need to hit the ref. He needs to pay the price.”

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That’s what they did. 

During one of the final plays of a September 5 road game Marble Falls High School, Rojas deliberately plowed into referee Robert Watts, sending him crashing to the turf. Moreno then speared Watts after he was down. 

Moreno and Rojas, both Honor Society members at the San Antonio high school, say they understand the national outrage over the incident, but believe Breed bears a portion of the blame. 

“You put your trust into this grown-up, this guardian, your coach, who’s been there for me. … I trust him. I did what I was told,” Moreno said. “Everyone sees me as this thug or gangster: I did this because I’m a bad guy. That’s not who I am. Underneath the helmet and the pads, I’m really a great kid.”

The teenagers said that Breed ordered the hit on Watts as retribution for “cheating us.” 

They also claim Watts used racial slurs throughout the game, once telling a Hispanic player to “speak English.” Watts denies the allegations. 

The pair was booted from the football team, suspended from school for three days, and made to attend an alternative school for a week. They also still face possible criminal assault charges.

“I’m ready to face my consequences,” Moreno said. “I am greatly sorry for this and I regret it greatly. I hope people can change their minds about us and the consequences.”

As of Friday afternoon, Breed could not be reached for comment.