A Florida high school football player who gave thanks to God for scoring his first touchdown was penalized by officials because of praying.

Sam Turner, a senior at Fort Myers High School, scored on a 27-yard touchdown pass and then knelt and pointed a finger to heaven, thanking God.

“I said ‘thank you, God, for this talent you’ve blessed me with’,” Turner told reporters.

The referees penalized Turner’s team 15 yards, saying that the act of praying was unsportsmanlike conduct.

Turner’s coach said that they talked to Sam and told him that his action of praying wasn’t a selfish act.  He also tried to be diplomatic when it came to the officials penalizing a student for showing his faith on the field.

“It comes down to a ref’s discretion. To them, they try 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,” Sam Sirianna Jr. told reporters.