Once again, Rom Gilbert is what made me wonder. His
2015 Weekly Quiz #12:
Fourth & 8 on the A-42. A8's punt is illegally touched by A83 on B's 24. B44 recovers the ball and advances to the B36 where he fumbles. A2 recovers B44’s fumble and carries the ball into Team B’s end zone. During A2's run, B77 tackles A56 on B's 18 to prevent him from blocking B96.
His ruling:B 1/10 B-24. The score does not count. Five- and 10-yard penalties are not administered on the try or the succeeding kickoff. The penalty for Team B’s foul is declined by rule. The ball belongs to Team B at the spot of illegal touching, B’s 24 (10-2-5-a-2).
This is in fact a more detailed depiction of A.R. 6-3-2-III (see below). So I don't disagree. However, I'm having a hard time seeing the fairness in it. Because if A2 was tackled on B-2, the foul would not be declined, and B's privillege would be cancelled. It would be A: 1/G at B-1.
So Team B is rewarded for not stopping the runner and Team A is punished for reaching the EZ instead of stopping short.
Or am I wrong?
6-3-2-III: Team A’s punt goes beyond the neutral zone and is first touched by A80, then picked up by B40, who runs five yards and fumbles. A20 picks up the fumble and scores. During A20’s run, B70 holds.
RULING: The score does not count. Five- and 10-yard penalties are not administered on the try or the succeeding kickoff. The penalty for Team B’s foul is declined by rule. The ball belongs to Team B at the spot of illegal touching (Rule 10-2-5-a-2).