3/G at the B 5 yard line. QB Lefty's pass is intercepted in B's end zone by Stretch, the CB. CB runs around trying to get out of the end zone, but does not make it out, and is tackled there. After the interception, but before Stretch is tackled, his teammate, Speedy, commits a holding foul at the B 10 yard line.
We all know that the basic spot is the B 20 for a play in the EZ when A was responsible for putting it there, so we enforce the foul from the B 10 (behind the basic spot), giving up B ball, 1/10 @ their own 5. We also know that the game clock will start on the snap, due to the COP. Does the play clock go to 25 starting on the ready?
A strict reading of Article 1 seems to indicate a 40-second clock, since none of the conditions in 3-6-1-a-1 are met. But are we really going to start a 40-second clock at the end of the play and make teams have to hustle players on and off the field, call the play, and snap it within that time frame?
ART. 1 . . . Play clock and ready-for-play:
a. Play clock:
1. 25 seconds will be on the play clock and start on the ready-for-play signal:
(a) Prior to a try following a score;
(b) To start a period or overtime series;
(c) Following administration of an inadvertent whistle;
(d) Following a charged time-out;
(e) Following an official's time-out as in 3-5-7 or 3-5-10, except for 3-5-7b; and
(f) Following the stoppage of the play clock by the referee for any other reason.
2. 40 seconds will be on the play clock after a down other than specified in 3-6-1a(1), and start when the ball is declared dead by a game official.
b. The ball is ready for play:
1. When the ball has been placed for a down and the referee marks the ball ready for play after giving the ready-for-play signal as in 3-6-1a(1);
2. Starting immediately after the ball has been ruled dead by a game official after a down, the ball has been placed on the ground by the game official and the game official has stepped away to position as in 3-6-1a(2).
