High school quarterback penalized for thanking God

MEXICO, N.Y. (Christian Examiner) -- Mexico High School quarterback Dante Turo was raised by his parents to give glory to God – especially on the football field.

"When you score touchdowns, when you make big plays, it's easy to become proud," Geno, his dad, told me. "It's easy to take credit for yourself. I didn't want my son to get caught up in that."

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Geno, who lives in a small town north of Syracuse, New York, encouraged his son to find a subtle way to praise the Lord after making big plays.

"He wanted to do something at that moment to take credit away from himself and give glory to God," Geno said. "God gives us the ability and the talent. As Christians, we want to be sure to give that back immediately."

So on Oct. 17 when Dante ran 73 yards for a touchdown, the 17-year-old quarterback raised a single finger to the sky.

Dante was honoring the Lord. But a referee said he was taunting.

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Todd Starnes is host of Fox News & Commentary, heard on hundreds of radio stations. Sign up for his American Dispatch newsletter, be sure to join his Facebook page, and follow him onTwitter. His latest book is "God Less America."