Am I reading this incorrectly???

[SCHSref]

Team K’s ball fourth and 10 at its own 20 yard line. K1’s punt is blocked and rolls to team K’s 23 yard line. R2 muffs the ball, which rolls to team K’s 17 yard line. K3 picks up the ball and punts it again. The ball goes out of bounds at team K’s 45 yard line.

I'm scratching my head since the answers both say ball is dead in 2 different situations when K3 recovers it or when he kicks it again.

It seems as though the ball crossed the line, muffed back behind it, picked up and kicked again. Yet, it's dead???

[HLinNC]

We need a bit more context than what you are offering.   The answers from where exactly- a test, Referee magazine?   In NFHS K can pick it up if it has rebounded behind the line and run it, pass it, or kick it again.   Without knowing your source material, we've no idea if its coming from another rule set.  If it comes from Referee magazine, they notoriously get things wrong.

[AlUpstateNY]

Team K’s ball fourth and 10 at its own 20 yard line. K1’s punt is blocked and rolls to team K’s 23 yard line. R2 muffs the ball, which rolls to team K’s 17 yard line. K3 picks up the ball and punts it again. The ball goes out of bounds at team K’s 45 yard line.

I'm scratching my head since the answers both say ball is dead in 2 different situations when K3 recovers it or when he kicks it again.

It seems as though the ball crossed the line, muffed back behind it, picked up and kicked again. Yet, it's dead???

 

Endorsing HLinSC's cautions, I might suggest you reference a posting under "Parents & Players Understanding", on Refstripes postings under NFHS earlier today where he provided a long listing (12pages) of 2020 Major Rule Differences between NFHS & NCAA. 

It's worth printing out and keeping handy as a reference as a lot more "Spectator Experts" are more familiar with NCAA rules from watching games on TV.  He also provided a similar link to a NFL Rules difference list, which might help the "Commentator Experts" and their oceans of explanations on TV.

[bossman72]

NFHS this remains alive while NCAA this is dead.
Not 100% sure, but I think punting it again wipes out R2's muff and R would get the ball at the K45.
I think this is why NCAA kills it when the kick has been beyond the NZ - too many complicated things can happen.

[Ralph Damren]

NFHS this remains alive while NCAA this is dead.
Not 100% sure, but I think punting it again wipes out R2's muff and R would get the ball at the K45.
I think this is why NCAA kills it when the kick has been beyond the NZ - too many complicated things can happen.

Bossman nailed it. The ball was touched downfield by R, if recovered there by K = K's ball new series + ball dead. IF the ball bounces back behind the LOS (remember a football isn't round and doesn't always take round ball bounces) where it's recovered by K = ball remains alive + K gets a new series. K could then run or pass the ball and would have a new series unless the pass was intercepted. IF K chose to kick the ball, they would be turning the ball over to R -sorta' like punting on 1st down.

[KWH]

Bossman nailed it. The ball was touched downfield by R, if recovered there by K = K's ball new series + ball dead. IF the ball bounces back behind the LOS (remember a football isn't round and doesn't always take round ball bounces) where it's recovered by K = ball remains alive + K gets a new series. K could then run or pass the ball and would have a new series unless the pass was intercepted. IF K chose to kick the ball, they would be turning the ball over to R -sorta' like punting on 1st down.

Agree completely with my friend from the Lobster, Chickadee, Dirigo, and Pine Tree State

[SCHSref]

Sorry all. Yes, it was from a test. The choices for the answers seemed incorrect.