I am going to take a different approach on this play.
2/10 @ B-30. QB A10, who has not been outside the tackle box, throws a desperation pass from the B-35 that falls incomplete after ineligible A58 touches the ball in an attempt to catch it at the line of scrimmage. There were no eligible receivers in the area.
It seems to me that everyone is getting hung up on the " There were no eligible receivers in the area."
If I am the white hat on Friday night, I would rule this as -- Illegal touching and not a illegal forward pass or intentional grounding, as I think people might be thinking too much on intent.
If we report this as a illegal pass, and the coach wants a ruling and we tell him that their was NO receiver in the area. Then the other team's receiver runs a slant route and the QB throws a deep out route ball and their is NO receiver in that area, are we going to call that IG or illegal forward pass, because I am guessing that is what the coach will be saying. Not sure how you are going to get out of that one.
Just my 2 cents worth -- Look forward to others comments !!!