Football Player Flagged for End Zone Prayer

When a Fort Myers football player bent his knee to say a quick prayer after making his first-ever high school touchdown catch, he got more than he bargained for.

While Fort Myers High School senior tight end Samuel Turner said he wanted to thank God for his talent and say a quick prayer for former teammate JoJo Brunson, who was murdered last year, his team received a 15-yard penalty for “unsportsmanlike conduct”courtesy of the act, WTSP reported.

Turner’s prayer came after a 27-yard touchdown pass, WINK News reported.

The teen, at first, was confused by the flag on the play and then was told by the referee that he was penalized for trying to bring attention to himself.

“I wasn’t trying to bring attention to myself I was just trying to thank God,” WINK quoted Turner as saying.

While Tuner and his coach, Sam Siriani Jr., both say they understand the penalty, others say it went too far.

WTPS quoted several fans as saying the penalty was unjustified because the prayer only lasted seconds and didn’t create a spectacle.

“Give the young man a break,” one fan said.

For his part, Turner told the News-Press he will keep his prayers to the sidelines should he score a touchdown again.

Despite the penalty, Fort Myers went on to win 49-0.

Photo Credit: Samuel Turner/Facebook

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See Also:

• Northeast High School Football Player Loses Leg after Injury
• High School Football Prayer Sessions Under Fire