A referee at a Syracuse, New York, high school calls a penalty after the quarterback in the end zone raises his finger to the sky, in recognition of God. (Image: Fox News screen shot)
A 17-year-old Christian quarterback who plays for Mexico High School in Syracuse, New York, said he was flagged by the referee for pointing his finger skyward to give glory to God for the touchdown.
"I didn't feel I did anything wrong," said Dante Turo, during a Thursday morning "Fox & Friends" interview about his actions in the end zone after he ran 73 yards to score.
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And those actions?
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He simply raised his finger toward the sky, in what he described on Fox News as "the international symbol of giving praise to Jesus."
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The referee, however, saw it differently and threw a yellow flag, claiming the teen was guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct. And the school, in a statement sent to "Fox & Friends," said Turo, his coach and his father, Geno, have been spinning the story of the penalty – that the issue was not about religious expression and freedom of religion.
But the video is pretty clear. In it, Turo is seen breaking away from a pack of defenders and racing toward the end zone, where he simply raises a finger to the sky. The nearby referee immediately throws a flag.
On "Fox & Friends," dad Geno defended his son.
"I'm extremely proud of my son," he said. "I've tried to raise my children to be fearless in the face of opposition ... to fight against oppression."
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And teen Turo, meanwhile, said he'd do it again, next game.
"Every game, obviously before the game, I'm praying and I do that every game," he said, adding that in upcoming games, he is planning on "pointing up, as I always do."
He also said his Christian faith teaches him those who follow Jesus would be "persecuted for it." And his father added: "And to rejoice in that persecution," he said.
