We study and discuss many things, but some things we just never see - until one day....
In 42 seasons, I had never actually seen - in one of my games - a blocked kick that fell to the ground behind the NZ, then bounced or rolled forward across the NZ before either team could gain possession of the ball. I had seen lots of blocked kicks, but they had either been just deflected and flew across the NZ, or fell to the ground behind the NZ where somebody recovered it.
In my most recent game, the punter took a few steps to one side to attempt a running kick, but a defensive player played a perfect angle and blocked the ball right off the kicker’s foot. The ball fell to the ground some 4 yards behind the NZ, and had enough momentum to continue forward. Players of both teams attempted to recover the ball. The ball was still loose when it crossed the NZ, and a Team A player grasped the ball firmly before any player of Team B touched the ball, less than 1 yard beyond the NZ. After some momentary “processing,” we awarded Team B a first down, on the illegal touching of a scrimmage kick that had crossed the NZ.
No real issue, other than Team A thought that the block made it anybody’s ball. Before the ball crossed the NZ, that was true. But, the ball, in fact, crossed the NZ, so, no, their recovery wasn’t legal.
First time I’d ever actually seen this.
Robert
