My answers, for what they are worth:
1. Free Kick @ A-35. Late in the 4th quarter with Team A trailing in the score, A99’s short kick bounces at the A-39 and as B88 moves forward to recover the ball, A55 bats the ball forward at the A-42 in an effort to prevent B88 from recovering the ball. The loose ball goes out of bounds at the B-42 without any touching of the kick by Team B.
RULING: ______________│______________│______________│______________
B, 1/10, A-42, snap (25).
Team A commits two fouls during the down. The illegal batting foul by A55 at the A-42 is also illegal touching. Team B can enforce the 10-yard illegal batting foul either at the previous spot and repeat the kickoff, or at the spot where the dead ball belongs to Team B (B-42), which would place the ball at the A-48. However, Team B can decline the penalty and invoke the illegal touching privilege, and take the ball at the A-42. Being only a 5-yard penalty, the illegal kick out of bounds foul would be declined, in any circumstance.
2. 2/5 @ A-40. Left Guard A67 pulls to his right on a stretch play to the right. As the runner moves into the side zone, A67 turns up-field and blocks B48 below the waist at the A-45. A67 get his head in the front of B48, but the force of the block is directed from the side. The runner is tackled in bounds at the 50.
RULING: ______________│______________│______________│______________
B, 2/15, A-30, ready (25).
The ball (and A67) has left the tackle box at the moment the block is made. At that time, all low blocks must be from the front. A67’s block is an illegal block below the waist. The 15 yard penalty is enforced, per 3 & 1, from the spot of the foul, taking the ball to the A-30, and the down is repeated. The play clock is set to 25 seconds, and both the play clock and the game clock will next start on the referee’s signal.
3. 3/4 @ B-44. Defensive End B99 is lined up outside Right Tackle A66. B99 starts to charge the line of scrimmage on the outside shoulder of A66. A66 reacts to the oncoming charge by standing up out of a three-point stance. The HL is uncertain if B99 entered the neutral zone during this action.
RULING: ______________│______________│______________│______________
A, 1/10, B-39, clock status quo (25).
By the pure language of the rules and interpretations, this is a false start by A66. However, by modern philosophy, if the defensive player is moving forward when the offense reacts (in the neutral zone, or near), we are to rule that the defensive player caused the false start, and this is offside by B99, by causing an offensive lineman to react immediately. The 5-yard penalty results in a first down for A. The game clock is status quo, i.e., we do not know if the clock had been running, or not. The game clock will start on the referee’s signal if it had been running, or on the snap if it had been stopped until the next snap. The play clock is set to 25 seconds and will start on the referee’s signal.
4. 2/10 @ B40. B44 intercepts the pass of A12 at the B-20 and turns back up-field on the return. During the return, B54 approaches A88 at midfield from the blind side and blocks A88 with extended hands. B44 returns the pass to the A-30.
RULING: ______________│______________│______________│______________
B, 1/10, A-30, snap (25).
We have to interpret this question a bit, but it would seem the author is indicating that B54 ‘cushioned’ the block with his extended arms. Assuming that to be the case, this is a legal blindside block – no foul. B will put the ball in play at the succeeding spot, 1/10. The game clock will next start on the snap, and the play clock is set to 25 seconds and will start on the referee’s signal.
5. Free Kick @ A-35. The kick is muffed at the B-10 near the sideline by B81. Both teams scramble for the ball with Team B gaining possession while grounded at the B-15. During the scramble A80 runs around players and inadvertently steps on the sideline attempting to recover the ball.
RULING: ______________│______________│______________│______________
B, 1/10, B-20, snap (25), OR A, kickoff, A-30, free kick timing (25).
This may not be the most egregious type of action that this rule is supposed to address, but, this is an illegal return by A80, and the 2020 rule change doesn’t help him. The 2020 rule changed the restriction on an A player going OB to be during the kick play (not the entire down), but this is still during the kick play when A80 steps OB. The five yard penalty can be enforced at the previous spot and the kickoff repeated from the A-30, with free kick timing rules and the play clock set to 25 seconds and starting on the referee’s signal, or it can be added to the spot where the dead-ball belongs to B (the B-15), taking the ball to the B-20, with the game clock starting on the snap, and the play clock set to 25 seconds and starting on the referee’s signal. The choice is not obvious. We must get Team B's choice.
6. 3/15 @ B-40. A12 throws a pass to A89 across the middle at the B-32. B50, who is covering A89, grabs and turns A89 downfield at the B-35 before the pass is thrown. The Umpire rules that the ball was tipped behind the line by B54 but A89 still makes the catch and advances to the B-26 where he is tackled inbounds.
RULING: ______________│______________│______________│______________
A, 3/5, B-30, ready (25), or A, 4/1, B-26, ready (25).
B50 commits a defensive holding foul. Since the foul occurred during the pass play portion of the down, it can only be enforced at the previous spot. Since the pass was first touched behind the NZ, there is NO automatic first down for team A. By accepting the penalty, Team A will repeat the down after the 10 yard penalty from the previous spot, taking the ball to the B-30. By declining the penalty, Team A would have the ball at the B-26, 4/1. I think most teams would take 3/5, B-30. But, time and score could make a big difference. The choice is NOT obvious, so we must get the choice from Team A.
In both cases, the play clock is set to 25 seconds, and both the play clock and the game clock will next start on the referee’s signal.
7. Free Kick @ A-35. B26 holds A21 before the untouched ball goes out of bounds at the B-10.
RULING: ______________│______________│______________│______________
A, Kickoff, B-35, free kick timing (25).
B26’s holding foul occurred before Team B gained possession, so the ‘clean hands’ provision does not apply. Team A committed an illegal kick out bounds foul. The fouls offset, and the down is repeated at the previous spot (no option).
8. 3/10 @ B-25. On a running play late in the half, A44 is tackled inbounds at the B-17. Team B players hold A44 down and are deliberately slow to “un-pile” in an obvious attempt to consume time and prevent the officials from making the ball ready for play.
RULING: ______________│______________│______________│______________
A, 1/10, B-12, snap (25).
Team B commits a delay of game foul by deliberately taking excessive time to “un-pile.” The five yard penalty is enforced at the succeeding spot, taking the ball to the B-12, and yielding a first down for Team A. By rule the game clock will next start on the snap. The play clock is set to 25 seconds and will start on the referee’s signal.
Check me closely.
