Texas HS football players say coach told them to strike referee

— -- DALLAS -- Two Texas high school football players say a coach told them to strike a referee during a game because of missed calls that had hurt the team.

During an appearance on ABC's "Good Morning, America," Michael Moreno and Victor Rojas, also repeated earlier claims that the ref had used racial slurs.

The two were suspended from the Jay High School football team in San Antonio in the aftermath of the game early this month at Marble Falls. The Northside school district moved them to an alternative school as investigations into the matter continue.

"While on the sideline [the coach] pulled me and another player over and I quote 'you need to hit him,'" Moreno said during the interview. "... 'You need to hit the ref, he needs to pay the price.' Just for everything that was going on in the game, there were racial slurs being thrown at players from this referee. There were unjustified calls ... I guess his emotions just got mixed into it and he told us to do what we did."

Rojas says he was just following orders.

"I can't explain it," said Rojas on what he was thinking when he hit the referee. "I was doing (what) I was told."

The players didn't name the coach Friday. Assistant coach Mack Breed has been suspended by the Northside Independent School District pending an investigation.

"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.

Video from the game against Marble Falls earlier this month shows Rojas blindsiding the referee, Robert Watts, and Moreno diving on top of him. Watts was the umpire on the defensive side watching a play along the line of scrimmage.

Rojas alleged that Watts at one point told a Hispanic player to "speak English, this is America."  Moreno contends the ref used a racial slur directed at a black player. The teenager also said at the last moment he realized the gravity of what he was about to do and softened his blow on Watts. 

"I pulled up a lot," Moreno said. "It was hard for me during the whole thing to actually do what I did. And to this day I regret it. It's one of my biggest regrets and it's been affecting my life greatly."

"That's not who I am," he added. "Underneath the helmet and the pads, I'm really a great kid."

Watts has denied using inappropriate language. 

His attorney, New Jersey lawyer Alan Goldberger, told The Associated Press on Friday that the game video shows a crime was committed against Watts and now the perpetrators are blaming the victim for their actions.

"He didn't say hurtful things to anybody and he certainly didn't say racial epithets," Goldberger said, adding that civil action is being considered.

Watts has officiated nearly 500 football games over 14 years, but has stepped aside because he's now under a doctor's care for injuries inflicted by the players, Goldberger said.

"It's so typical that these accusations are made," he said. "It's always the referee's fault."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.