A high school football player in North Carolina is facing criminal charges after police say he punched a referee in the face during a game.
Off-duty High Point Police officers working the game responded to an assault and confirmed that a Greensboro Smith High School player punched a referee during a game against Andrews High School.
Because of the punch, the game stopped short with around 2:02 left to play in the fourth quarter.
According to The Highpoint Enterprise, the altercation appeared to be instigated when Smith tried for a first down on a fourth-and-2 from its own 25. The ball was marked at the 26, missing the first down by a yard. Before play could resume, one of the Smith players threw a punch at the head referee. The player had to restrained and eventually carried to the sideline by a teammate.
“That was unacceptable, unacceptable,” Andrews head coach Mook Reynolds told the Enterprise. “I am proud of my guys. We want to put them in frustrating situations when we work out and practice so they learn what maturity is and execute through adversity.
The school district released the following statement:
