While we are talking about play clock situations, there are several that the PCOs we get (typically, general members of the community, sometimes school employees) just don't seem to understand, no matter how many times we provide instruction.
1) Following a kickoff, unless there is an administrative stoppage for something (foul, helmet off, injury, etc.), the play clock is set to 40 seconds and begins "immediately" after the ball becomes dead at the end of the kickoff down. This is regardless of the outcome of the kickoff down. Touchback, fair catch, runback, Team B first down - it doesn't matter. But, time after time, I see it set to either 25 or 40, and just held. No! See the time out signal; take a breath; pause; start the play clock (40 seconds). If it gets down to 25 before we can get the ball spotted, we'll pump it up. No big deal.
2) After a TD, unless there is an administrative stoppage for something (foul, helmet off, injury, etc.), the play clock is set to 40 seconds and begins "immediately" after the ball becomes dead at the end of the down. Even if it was a 99 yard TD run. But, time after time, I see it set to either 25 or 40, and just held. No! See the time out signal; take a breath; pause; start the play clock (that's "immediately," for these purposes). If it gets down to 25 before we can get the ball spotted, we'll pump it up. No big deal.
3) After a legal punt - regardless of the outcome of the down- the play clock is set to 25 seconds, and held until the referee's RFP signal. I still see PCOs setting it to 40 and running it after the dead ball. No!
4) A-B-A situations. (BUT NOT ON A LEGAL SCRIMMAGE KICK DOWN.) When Team A's series is broken (fumble catch/recovery by B, interception by B, etc.), but they get the ball back by fumble/snatch, etc., the play clock is 40 seconds, and starts when the ball becomes dead on the previous down. These don't happen often, and I am waiting to see if anyone ever gets this right.
Actually, the biggest problem is that we sometimes still get one guy running both the play clock and the game clock. I wish the UIL would put their foot down on that, and require separate people on each clock.
But, hey! We're workin'. I know a lot of FBS guys that ain't. One got news today that his game this Sat was 'postponed.'