Play It Again Sam Sw Florida

Senior Sam Turner took a knee in the end zone at Edison Stadium on Friday night, threw his hands upward in the air, offered a prayer. Most every bit presently as his knee hit the turf, an official flagged the play.

His words of praise earned a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike acquit.

Turner'southward action — reminiscent of another more famous Florida football player — and that penalty has been drawing comment in Southwest Florida, mostly positive, for the past few days.

"There's been tons of support from my family and friends," the Fort Myers senior said Sunday. "They are proud of me that I stood firm in my organized religion."

Turner said that he was only excited to have defenseless the kickoff touchdown of his loftier school football game career, a 27-yarder from QB Dylan DeGroot during the Dark-green Wave'south game confronting Riverdale, and went downward on one articulatio genus and pointed his finger skyward, uttering a prayer.

"I said 'thank you, God, for this talent you've blest me with,'" he said, and so gave a quick honor to JoJo Brunson and the life he had. Brunson, murdered in April 2013, would have been a senior player this year.

Although the 15-thou penalty Turner received for the 5-second devotional was not expected past the 16-year-old senior, he has since taken information technology in stride.

"It's very cool to see how everyone is taking information technology," he said. "I use my faith as a platform for my talents. My teammates are giving my tons of back up. They all know I'thou strong believer, even though it cost us 15 yards." He also best-selling it might have been a trivial tougher if the penalty had toll them the game.

Fort Myers High won , 49-0.

Turner'southward coach, Sam Sirianni Jr., said he cannot mistake the emotions displayed by Turner nor can he find fault with the reaction past the officials.

"Information technology comes down to a ref'due south discretion," he said. "To them, they endeavor to follow the letter of the rules. You accept both sides. I have seen it happen at all levels. The officials have to toe the line."

During his college and pro career, Florida Gator QB Tim Tebow often went downwards on bended knee to marking a good play. Rarely, if always, was he penalized, and the term Tebowing was coined for the action.

Sirianni said that people on all sides feel bad in a state of affairs similar this.

"I bet the official doesn't experience good nearly throwing information technology, but I don't begrudge the official. You just move on," he said.

The Green Wave omnibus said that the dark had been 1 of high emotions, honoring fallen teammate Brunson.

"We talked to Sam. What he did wasn't selfish," Sirianni said. "He didn't understand it at first. He said information technology shouldn't take been a penalisation. He would never do annihilation disrespectful or practice anything that would hurt the team. You lot don't punish or get mad at a kid for his intent."

For Turner, a fellow member of Side by side Level Church and one of nine siblings, his hereafter is focused on football, with aspirations to play tight end or wing, his current position, at least at the college level.

"I need to grow my torso a bit," he said. "I skipped a grade. That's good for academics, but rough for sports."

Turner said he is a passionate player in a passionate sport. "I've been playing since viii or 9. It has been fun ever since then," he said.

And, if he gets another touchdown, does Turner have whatever plans for what ensues?

"I may accept to do information technology on the sidelines," he said.

Connect with this reporter: MichaelBraunNP (Facebook) @MichaelBraunNP (Twitter)

Nearly the "commemoration"

Comments were running high on The News-Press Facebook page confronting the penalty received by Fort Myers Senior Sam Turner Fri night during the Green Wave'southward game against Riverdale.

Christopher Anderson He scored his first touchdown of the flavour on Homecoming/Senior night. Give the fellow a break.

Daun Desjarlais This boy is amazing! He has been a friend of my son'south for years and I've watched him abound through schoolhouse and our church. He is someone others can look upwardly to. Keep it up, Sam!!! Love that all you exercise is for God!

Gina Marie What the hell is incorrect with this state? Information technology's America.... this is God's country. They shouldn't have to pay to arrive the game and so because it's made with money that says In God We Trust. Worry well-nigh more than important crap than a kid praying you lot idiots.

Susan Natalia Jerger It was awesome and I hope if information technology happens again that he does it over again! I too pray this goes national and some awesome college football game jitney that shares Sam's faith, both on and off the field, recruits and picks him upward later seeing this! I've got one in listen Sam!!!

Brett Ellis I was there and saw it. Information technology was real quick, wasn't taunting and information technology wasn't a spectacle. Information technology was done with grade and respect. I was surprised it was flagged.

Tom Stawicki WTH... this is high a schoolhouse game. Ref go a life.

draperbrombon86.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.news-press.com/story/news/local/fort-myers/2014/11/02/fort-myers-football-player-gets-support-flagged-end-zone-prayer/18386833/