Muff and recovery by k?

[Brian26]

K's ball 4th and 10 from midfield. K punts and R muffs the kick, the ball hits the ground and bounces high into the air at R's 2yd line. While running toward R's goal line K33 leaps and controls the ball over R's 2yd line then comes down with the ball into R's end-zone.

This is a touch back with R getting ball 1st and 10 on it's 20 since K can't advance a muff kicked but didn't gain possession until coming down in end zone?


Another play; .       K1’s field-goal attempt hits the ground at team R’s five yardline, is muffed by R2 at his own two yardline, then rolls into the end zone. Six yards deep in the end zone, K3 falls on the ball, what's ruling?

[CalhounLJ]

Touchback in both instances. In the second situation, R's muff did not change the status of the ball. It was still a kick when it rolled into the EZ. In the first, you are correct, the ball was not by definition in possession of K when it crossed the plane of the EZ. Therefore, the status of that ball didn't change either. It was a kick in the EZ.

[HLinNC]

 "A kick is a kick is a kick......."

[bossman72]

Play 1 I have R 1/10 @ R2.  K cannot advance the ball once possessing it.  I see this similar to a receiver jumping in the air in the end zone to catch a pass and the defender knocking him out of the end zone and landing at the 2.  We give him the TD.

Anybody have a rule reference I may be missing here?

[HLinNC]

2-4-1 Catch: Definition of a catch for forward progress would include the fact that the player in possession is stopped while the opponent is carrying the player who has possession and inbounds.

2-36-1 Recovery:  He gained possession of the live ball after it struck the ground so it is a recovery.    "An airborne player has completed a recovery when he first contacts the ground inbounds with the ball in his possession."  The recovery of the kick was not completed until he was in R's end zone.

[CalhounLJ]

What HL said.
 
I will add: "The recovery of the kick was not completed until he was in R's end zone." Therefore, when the ball crossed the plane of the goal, it was still a kick...