'His hand got stuck': Mother of high school footballer who ripped off opponent's helmet and used it to BASH him in the head claims it was just an ACCIDENT

• Violence broke out when Linden High School played Immaculata High School in New Jersey
• A video shows the Linden defensive lineman in a black No.1 jersey pulling the helmet off the Immaculata player in No.73 jersey and striking him
• The Immaculata player was taken to a hospital, where he had ten stitches 
• The Linden lineman, who was later identified as Fritz Moncion, 18, was penalized for unsportsmanlike behavior but not ejected from the game 
• He was kicked off the team and suspended for ten school days
• His mother Anita McDuffy said the incident was an 'accident'
• A family friend claimed the rival player had been 'spearing' Moncion and had repeatedly called him 'the n-word'

By Snejana Farberov For Dailymail.com and Associated Press

Published: 18:41 EST, 17 September 2015 | Updated: 00:31 EST, 18 September 2015

A high school football game in New Jersey took an ugly and distinctly unsportsmanlike turn when a player was caught on camera yanking off an opponent’s helmet and using it to hit him in the head.

The outburst of violence took place Friday night when Linden High School played Immaculata High School at Linden's Tiger Stadium.

Videotape shows a Linden defensive lineman in a black No.1 jersey pulling the helmet off an Immaculata defensive tackle's head, appearing to take a swing and bashing the teenager with it in the forehead.

The lineman has now been identified as 18-year-old Fritz Moncion, according to NJ.com. 

But his mother Anita McDuffy insists the incident was just an accident - also is claiming the other player had been calling her son the 'n-word.'

Trouble: The mother of Fritz Moncion, 18, claims it was an accident when her son hit another player with his helmet

Line of scrimmage: The violence broke out September 11 when Linden High School played Immaculata High School in New Jersey

Moncion is seen pulling the helmet off an Immaculata player's head (left). The victim wearing a white jersey is sprawled on the ground in front of the attacker (right)

Swing: Moncion, dressed in black, takes a swing with his opponent's helmet as the Immaculata defensive tackle grabs at his uniform

Walloped: Moncion slams the Immaculata player square in the forehead as the boy lies on his stomach

'He really is apologetic about this. He said his hand got stuck in the helmet. I believe in my child,' McDuffy told reporters at a news conference Thursday. 

'If it was so bad, which it was a bad incident, they should have taken him out of the game. They allowed him to play the third and fourth quarter. He apologized to the student.' 

Meanwhile, Dondi Givens, a family friend, said Moncion had complained to the referee during the game that the player on the Immaculata High School team was 'spearing' him, or driving head first with his helmet. 

McDuffy added that her son told her that the Immaculata player repeatedly called him 'the n-word'. However, McDuffy said her son was not upset by the language, but rather by the alleged spearing, according to NJ.com.

Salaam Ismial, the director of the Elizabeth-based United Youth Council, said; 'Things like this happen in football. He didn't go up to hurt this kid. They were two bulls tangling.'

Moncion - who is also a star basketball player for Linden - appeared at the press conference as well but did not speak. 

A referee penalized the Linden player for unsportsmanlike conduct but did not eject him from the game because he did not witnesses the hit, which took place away from the play, according to NJ.com. 

The injured Immaculata DT was taken to Morristown Memorial Hospital, where he received ten stitches for a contusion, reportedNJ.com.

The turbulent game ended with Immaculate defeating Linden 26-6.

Moncion was removed from the team Wednesday after being suspended from school for ten days.

'The brutal action taken by this young man is simply unacceptable and will not be condoned,' Linden School Superintendent Danny Robertozzi said in a statement.

Linden police Capt. James Sarnicki said the police department's juvenile bureau had launched an investigation to determine if criminal charges should be filed.

Allegation: Moncion's mother also claimed the other player had been calling her son the 'n-word'

The teen in the No 1 jersey then tosses the helmet and walks away, leaving his vanquished foe on his hands and knees 

The victim, seen in his No 73 uniform, was later taken to a hospital, where he received 10 stitches 

Immaculata school officials praised the beat-up teen for showing restraint and maturity  

Explanation: 'He really is apologetic about this. He said his hand got stuck in the helmet. I believe in my child,' said Moncion's mother

Superintendent Robertozzi said earlier that his administration was conducting its own investigation and 'disciplinary consequences will be issued accordingly'.

Immaculata High School's athletic director Thomas Gambino praised the victim for handling himself with 'restraint and maturity,' reported NBC New York. 

Gambino also reported receiving an apology from Linden officials for the incident.  

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