Emmanuel Duron is the former Edinburg High School defensive lineman who charged the field and tackled referee Alfredo “Fred” Gracia during a Texas high school football playoff game on December 3, 2020. He pleaded no contest to assault causing bodily injury in May 2024, received deferred adjudication with one year of community supervision, and completed that probation on May 13, 2025. Since the on-field incident, he has also faced a first-degree felony drug charge and a separate domestic assault case, and Gracia’s civil lawsuit against him is still pending.
What Happened on the Field
Edinburg High was playing Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Early College High School at Richard R. Flores Stadium in Edinburg. Duron, then an 18-year-old senior, was penalized twice, including once for unsportsmanlike conduct, and ejected. Teammates tried to hold him on the sideline. He broke away, ran to midfield, and blindsided Gracia, a 59-year-old official, slamming him to the ground.1MyRGV. Former Edinburg Football Player Gets Probation for Tackling Referee A coach and another player chased Duron onto the field but could not reach him in time.2NBC DFW. Texas HS Football Player Charged With Tackling Referee Apologizes Gracia lay on the ground for several minutes and was evaluated for a concussion and a shoulder injury before walking off under his own power.
Duron was arrested that night by Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District police and charged with assault causing bodily injury, a Class A misdemeanor. Bond was set at $10,000.3ABC7. Football Player Referee Video Hits
Team Pulled From the Playoffs
Edinburg won the game 35-21, but the result did not stand for long. Interim Superintendent Gilbert Garza Jr. withdrew the team from the playoffs after consulting with legal counsel and the University Interscholastic League, which had signaled it would remove the team itself if the district did not act.4Touchdown Wire. Edinburg School District Issues Apology After Player Flattened Referee5KSAT. Former South Texas HS Football Player Who Tackled Referee Avoids Jail Sentence, Pleads No Contest
On December 14, 2020, the UIL State Executive Committee added its own penalties. Head coach J.J. Leija drew a public reprimand and probation for the 2021–2022 school year.6Valley Central. UIL Hands Down Punishment Following Edinburg Referee Attack The athletic department was placed on two years of probation covering all sports.7CBS News Texas. Edinburg High Football Coach J.J. Leija Probation Player Attack Referee Duron was suspended from all UIL activities for the rest of the school year, ending his high school athletic career.
How the Criminal Case Ended
The case took more than three years to resolve. On May 14, 2024, Duron pleaded no contest to assault causing bodily injury.5KSAT. Former South Texas HS Football Player Who Tackled Referee Avoids Jail Sentence, Pleads No Contest The judge granted deferred adjudication, a form of Texas probation that avoids a formal conviction if the defendant completes supervision successfully.8San Antonio Express-News. Texas High School Football Assault Referee
Duron received one year of community supervision. The conditions required him to stay employed, avoid people and places “of harmful character,” pay a fine, and possess no firearms or ammunition.8San Antonio Express-News. Texas High School Football Assault Referee He completed the year on May 13, 2025.9Valley Central. Community Supervision Complete for 2 Assault Cases Against Former Edinburg Football Player, Lawsuit Pending
Later Arrests
Cocaine Charge
On March 22, 2022, Edinburg police found Duron asleep in the driver’s seat of a vehicle on the 2500 block of Los Lagos Drive. Officers smelled marijuana and, during a search, found a bag of white powder that tested positive for cocaine. He was charged with manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance, a first-degree felony, and held on a $60,000 bond.10KRGV. Former Edinburg Football Player Arrested on Drug Charge in Hidalgo County
Duron pleaded guilty in 2024 and was sentenced to four years of community supervision, with credit for 11 days already served. That probation is still active.9Valley Central. Community Supervision Complete for 2 Assault Cases Against Former Edinburg Football Player, Lawsuit Pending
Domestic Assault
Duron was arrested again in April 2024 for assaulting a romantic partner. Court documents allege he bit the woman on the neck. He pleaded guilty, received deferred adjudication, and finished community supervision on June 10, 2025.9Valley Central. Community Supervision Complete for 2 Assault Cases Against Former Edinburg Football Player, Lawsuit Pending
Gracia’s Civil Lawsuit
Gracia sued Duron on December 5, 2022, in the 464th District Court of Hidalgo County. The suit also names the Rio Grande Texas Association of Sports Officials Football Chapter Division and the Southwest Officials Association, doing business as the Texas Association of Sports Officials.9Valley Central. Community Supervision Complete for 2 Assault Cases Against Former Edinburg Football Player, Lawsuit Pending Gracia alleges “severe and life-altering injuries” along with embarrassment and psychological harm, and is seeking more than $1 million.11Valley Central. Former Edinburg Football Player Avoids Prison After Tackling Referee
The case has moved slowly under Judge Jose A. Ramirez. A summary judgment motion was taken under advisement in November 2024, and a scheduled May 2025 jury trial was canceled after Gracia and his counsel did not appear at a pre-trial hearing. The court directed the parties to set a new scheduling conference, and the lawsuit remains pending.12Trellis Law. Alfredo Gracia, Noe A. Gonzalez vs. Emmanuel Duron et al.
Where Things Stand
Duron, now 23, has completed community supervision on both assault cases through deferred adjudication, so neither the referee attack nor the domestic incident produced a formal conviction on his record.9Valley Central. Community Supervision Complete for 2 Assault Cases Against Former Edinburg Football Player, Lawsuit Pending He remains on four-year felony probation for the cocaine case, and Gracia’s civil claim is still open.