Related: Student claims she was assaulted by high school teacher
A local youth football coach is accused of punching three children in the face during a fight on the field.
Larry Cruce, a coach for the Middleburg Broncos, is facing child abuse charges.
“He came out of nowhere, just lifted up my helmet, hit me in my neck. Then my coach grabbed me away,” said 12-year-old Omahri Meeks, who claims Cruce punched him.
“He hit my friend in the side of his face. He has a big bruise on the side of his face,” Meeks said.
During an away game in New Smyrna Beach, parents said Cruce attacked Meeks and two other players.
3 youth football players say Middleburg Broncos Coach Larry Cruce punched them after an away game in New Smyrna Beach. Cruce is charged with 3 counts of child abuse. pic.twitter.com/6v6aGbeI6f
— Beth Rousseau (@BethANJax) April 11, 2018
Parent Charmaine Winter said she ran onto the field to stop Cruce.
“I turn around and I see him with my son’s face mask in his hand, lifting it up, shoving him and hitting him," Winter said.
Players said the violence started when the Broncos began to brag about winning the game.
“That poor guy, they arrested the guy and put him in handcuffs in the middle of my field,” the CEO for youth spring football Sandy Becket said.
Beckett said the field’s video doesn’t show Cruce or any other coach punching players.
“No part of any of the six clips demonstrates or shows even a close representation of any coach punching any player,” he said.
Beckett said he’s working to share his video with investigators.
He also said that, if there’s any evidence or video that shows otherwise, he will push for charges.
Cox Media Group
