Interesting Play Situation

[bctgp]

A 1/10 at the B-20.  B99 intercepts the ball at the B-3 and his momentum takes him into the Team B end zone.  B99 fumbles while in the end zone and the ball enters the field of play, where A1 kicks the loose ball into the Team B end zone and over the end line. 

So result of the play would be touchback due to the new impetus on the ball by the illegal kick by A1, is that correct? If so, can we also enforce the foul from the B-20 as well?

[Legacy Zebra]

Yes the illegal kick adds new impetus. However the basic spot for this play is the goal line. There is a change of possession in the field of play and the related run ends in the end zone (10-2-2-d-2-b). Because the foul is by the team not in possession, the penalty would be enforced from the basic spot. So Team B will want to decline the penalty and take the touchback. B, 1/10 B-20, Snap, 25.

[bctgp]

Does the momentum rule change the end of the related run in this case?

[Legacy Zebra]

No, the end of the run is still the end of the run. Momentum exception does not apply here anyway because the ball left the end zone.

[JasonTX]

An almost exact play from the 2011 Play Bulletin #4 rules the next snap to be from the 30.

3. Third and five at the B-20. Defensive back B44 intercepts a forward pass at the B-3 and his momentum carries him into his end zone. While still in the end zone he fumbles the ball. It rolls forward, goes into the field of play, and in the scramble A33 kicks the ball into the end zone and over the end line.
RULING: First and 10 for Team B at the B-30. The result of the play is a touchback, and therefore the basic spot for enforcement of the 10-yard penalty for illegally kicking the ball is the B-20. The touchback results because of the new impetus given by A33 kicking the ball. (2-16-1-a, 8-5-1, 8-6-1, 8-7, 10-2-2-d-2(a))
2

[Legacy Zebra]

Interesting. I don’t have a 2011 book right now. Has 10-2-2 been rewritten since then? Because the citation given doesn’t fit the play description.  That play cites 10-2-2-d-2-a which is in the current book is for changes of possession in the end zone. This is a change of possession in the field of play.

[JasonTX]

Interesting. I don’t have a 2011 book right now. Has 10-2-2 been rewritten since then? Because the citation given doesn’t fit the play description.  That play cites 10-2-2-d-2-a which is in the current book is for changes of possession in the end zone. This is a change of possession in the field of play.

This scenario isn't exactly covered by the rules so this is why the 2011 bulletin was written.  We have a change of possession in the field of play, end of related run in the end,  zone,  with the result of the play being a touchback.

[Legacy Zebra]

This scenario isn't exactly covered by the rules

I disagree with this. 10-2-2-d-2-b covers running plays after a change of possession in the field of play when the run ends in the end zone. That's exactly what we have in this play.

with the result of the play being a touchback.

And this is only relevant if the change of possession occurs in the end zone, which it didn't. Those scenarios would be covered by 10-2-2-d-2-a (result of the play is a touchback) or -c (result of the play is not a touchback).

[JasonTX]

I disagree with this. 10-2-2-d-2-b covers running plays after a change of possession in the field of play when the run ends in the end zone. That's exactly what we have in this play.
 

And this is only relevant if the change of possession occurs in the end zone, which it didn't. Those scenarios would be covered by 10-2-2-d-2-a (result of the play is a touchback) or -c (result of the play is not a touchback).

True,  but b doesn't cover the situation in the play ending in a touchback.  The bulletin is using a as the enforcement.

[Kalle]

I wonder by the 2011 PSB play is not incorporated into A.R. 8-6-1-III. The 2011 rule 10-2-2-d-2 is more or less the same as it is now.

[ElvisLives]

The 2011 AR refers to 10-2-2-d-2-(a), which is confusing, because, 10-2-2-d-2-(a) requires the change of possession to be in the end zone, but in the play situation (both the AR and BCTGP's original post), the COP is in the field of play.

As we must do on the field, when I first read this post, my initial reaction - without looking at a book - was that the goal line would be the Basic Spot, and the penalty would be enforced from there, to the B-10.  But the touchback by pure result of the play would be better, so decline the penalty.  10-2-2-d-2-(b) supports that.

But, the AR (2011 Bulletin 4, play 3) conflicts with that.  If we, as a crew, recalled the AR, then we would have little choice but to follow the AR, and let somebody else tell us we were wrong (or right).

Note that the 2011 rule language and the 2018 rule language are virtually identical - the only difference being that the words "Succeeding spot" now appear, in lieu of "20-yard line," at the beginning of 10-2-2-d-2-(a), because of the change in the kickoff-touchback rule implemented a couple of seasons ago.  So, we aren't dealing with any rule change since 2011.  So, what's a poor slob to do?  Follow the AR, I'd say.  B, 1/10, B-30.

If the interception was in the end zone, easy.  10-2-2-d-2-(a) covers that explicitly.

But, with the interception (or any other COP) in the field of play, that would seem to be covered by 10-2-2-d-2-(b), with which the AR is in direct conflict.  The only possible explanation would be that, somehow, somebody is saying the change of possession occurred in the end zone.  But, by virtue of the fact that, if the interceptor fell to the ground in the end zone with the ball, we'd give him momentum, and place the ball at the B-3, that clearly means the COP was in the field of play.

Change the rule, or change the AR.  I don't care which.  But please clarify for us.