Man accused of knocking little league football player to the ground

A Mapleton football dad is accused of assaulting a 13-year-old player during a little league game Saturday in Payson.

The father, 38, was acting as an assistant coach for his son's Maple Mountaineers, who were tied against the Payson team in their final regular-season game, said Payson police Sgt. Lance Smith. A Payson running back was carrying the ball to the end zone for what would have been a tie-breaking touchdown when the man stepped into his path and raised his forearms, hitting the boy under his chin, Smith said.

The boy fell back onto the field, and the man stepped back and refused to help him, Smith said. The boy, who was dazed, was taken to a hospital and diagnosed with a concussion, according to jail documents released Tuesday. Doctors have restricted him from physical activity for 30 days, which will keep him off the field for his team's post-season, Smith said.

After the boy's injury, referees removed the man from the game and he left the field. The man's attorney brought him to the county jail to be booked on suspicion of second-degree felony child abuse.

Smith said he did not know the game's outcome. The game did not affect the teams' tournament schedule, he said.