Touching by Offensive lineman.

[tyro01]

A's ball.  3rd and 10 from B's 40 yard line. 
A12 takes the snap and drops back to pass.  Under a heavy rush, A12 throws the base to his left.
A70, who is the left tackle and covered by left wideout A4, catches the ball at B's 43 yard line.  After a couple of seconds, A70 realizes he caught the ball and drops the ball after catching it.  A12 falls on the ball at B's 43 yard line.

Is this illegal touching?  Please provide ruling and reference.  Thanks. 

[bama_stripes]

This is both ineligible downfield and illegal touching.  In FED, a receiver must be eligible by both position (end or back) and number (not 50-79).

B will decline the ineligible downfield foul (5 yd penalty) and accept the foul for illegal touching (5 yards + loss of down).

Previous spot enforcement, clock on RFP.

[Roscoe]

This is both ineligible downfield and illegal touching.  In FED, a receiver must be eligible by both position (end or back) and number (not 50-79).

B will decline the ineligible downfield foul (5 yd penalty) and accept the foul for illegal touching (5 yards + loss of down).

Previous spot enforcement, clock on RFP.

+1

[tyro01]

Please be advised that A70 did not go down field, but caugh the pass 3 yards behind the line of scrimmage. 

[tyro01]

Also, please explain why this would be a previous spot enforcement, as opposed to a spot foul. 

[bossman72]

NFHS made this nice and confusing in the case book.  I thought they got rid of the "illegal touching is OPI" rule, then they have this:


*7.5.13 SITUATION A: Ineligible receiver A2 is behind, in or beyond his neutral
zone and has committed no act against a defender that could be considered interference
when a forward pass by A1: (a) accidentally strikes him in the back; or
(b) is muffed by him; or (c) is caught by him. RULING: In (a), there is no foul for
illegal touching. In (b) and (c), it is illegal touching and if beyond the line of scrimmage,
would also be offensive pass interference. The acts in both (b) and (c) are
intentional and not accidental as in (a). COMMENT: Game officials should be very
clear in explaining penalty options if the same act constitutes more than one foul
as listed above, as each of the fouls has a different penalty.

[bossman72]

Please be advised that A70 did not go down field, but caugh the pass 3 yards behind the line of scrimmage. 

Your play is an illegal touch.  5 yards, spot foul, loss of down

[tyro01]

Got it.  Thanks for the help!

[HLinNC]

NFHS made this nice and confusing in the case book.  I thought they got rid of the "illegal touching is OPI" rule, then they have this:

bossman- This has been covered here and other boards.  NF revived a dead case play and re-entered it into the casebook.  They released a statement to strike it.

https://nfhs-football.arbitersports.com/Groups/105409/Library/files/2012%20Football%20Interp%20Aug(2).pdf

Page 61, *7.5.13 SITUATION A:
Ineligible receiver A2 is behind, in or
beyond his neutral zone and has committed
no act against a defender that
could be considered pass interference
when a forward pass by A1: (a) accidentally
strikes him in the back; or (b)
is muffed by him; or (c) is caught by
him. RULING: In (a), there is no foul
for illegal touching. In (b) and (c), it is
illegal touching. and if beyond the
line of scrimmage, would also be
offensive pass interference. The acts
in both (b) and (c) are intentional and
not accidental as in (a).

[maven]

A's ball.  3rd and 10 from B's 40 yard line. 
A12 takes the snap and drops back to pass.  Under a heavy rush, A12 throws the ball to his left.
A70, who is the left tackle and covered by left wideout A4, catches the ball at B's 43 yard line.  After a couple of seconds, A70 realizes he caught the ball and drops the ball after catching it.  A12 falls on the ball at B's 43 yard line.

Is this illegal touching?  Please provide ruling and reference.  Thanks. 

Tyro, your play is illegal touching, as others have said.

Now change the play: same play, but B96 falls on the ball and recovers it. What happens next?

[Atlanta Blue]

Tyro, your play is illegal touching, as others have said.

Now change the play: same play, but B96 falls on the ball and recovers it. What happens next?

Decline the foul, 1st and 10 for B.

[bama_stripes]

Please be advised that A70 did not go down field, but caugh the pass 3 yards behind the line of scrimmage.

Oops...didn't catch that!  Illegal touching, 5 yds from B43 + LOD.  Clock on RFP.

[bossman72]

bossman- This has been covered here and other boards.  NF revived a dead case play and re-entered it into the casebook.  They released a statement to strike it.

https://nfhs-football.arbitersports.com/Groups/105409/Library/files/2012%20Football%20Interp%20Aug(2).pdf

Page 61, *7.5.13 SITUATION A:
Ineligible receiver A2 is behind, in or
beyond his neutral zone and has committed
no act against a defender that
could be considered pass interference
when a forward pass by A1: (a) accidentally
strikes him in the back; or (b)
is muffed by him; or (c) is caught by
him. RULING: In (a), there is no foul
for illegal touching. In (b) and (c), it is
illegal touching. and if beyond the
line of scrimmage, would also be
offensive pass interference. The acts
in both (b) and (c) are intentional and
not accidental as in (a).

Thanks for the link!!  Will send this out to my association.