(CNN) Tumwater beat East Valley 63-27 on Monday night at the Tacoma Dome during the 2A state semifinal game, but a post-touchdown penalty call was a big surprise for the player responsible.
In the second quarter of the game, Tumwater running back Ronnie Hastie scored on a 23-yard run, took a knee in the end zone and briefly pointed to the heavens above.
For that the referee threw a flag, saying it was unsportsmanlike conduct.
Hastie said he’s pointed up as a gesture to God after every touchdown he’s scored in every game and never had a problem before.
“It’s usually one or two seconds long,” he said. “It’s something I’ve done as a tradition.”
Hastie said he asked the ref why he was penalized, and the ref responded that Hastie wasn’t supposed to draw attention to himself.
“That wasn’t the point (of the gesture), so I guess I was a little confused,” Hastie said. “I do that to give glory to my heavenly father, Jesus. He gives me the strength. He’s the one who gives me these abilities in the first place.”
