Check me closely.
1. 4/10 @ A-45. Team A80’s scrimmage kick is on its downward flight at Team B’s 30-yard line. B21, starting at the 20-yard line, must detour around A50 at the 25-yard line to make the catch at the 30-yard line.
RULING: B, 1/10, B-40, snap (25).
Kick Catch Interference by A50. 15 yards from the spot of the foul (B-25), takes the ball to the B-40. Due to the legal scrimmage kick, the play clock is 25, and starts on the Referee’s signal, and the game clock starts on the snap.
2. 4/5 @ A-30. Punt receiver B22 is at the B-30 awaiting the punt as it makes its downward flight and his teammate B88 is three yards in front of him at the B-33. A44 who is downfield to cover the kick, legally blocks B88 at the B-33 and B88 falls back and contacts B22 just as the ball reaches him. The ball hits B22 in the shoulder and bounces away. A44 then recovers the ball at the B-25.
RULING: A, 1/10, B-25, snap (25).
Blocking a teammate into the potential receiver is not a foul. Touching of the ball by B22 allows Team A to touch the ball legally. A44’s recovery is legal. Due to the legal scrimmage kick, the play clock is 25, and starts on the Referee’s signal, and the game clock starts on the snap.
3. 3/Goal @ B-5. A44 sweeps around right end and fights for extra yardage, and B21 punches the ball forward from A44 and the ball goes into Team B’s end zone. B54 recovers in the end zone and is downed there.
RULING: B, 1/10, B-20, snap (25).
B21’s “punch”ing of the ball is legal batting, and results in a fumble by Team A. Impetus is with the fumble, and A is responsible for the ball being dead behind B’s goal line when it is recovered/downed by B54, and is a touchback. Due to the touchback, the play clock is 25, and starts on the Referee’s signal, and the game clock starts on the snap.
4. 3/Goal @ B-8. QB A12 throws a legal forward pass into the end zone and B21 intercepts while on the run. As B21 runs laterally in the end zone, A88 punches the ball from B21’s hands and the ball rolls back into the field of play. B54 running toward the end zone recovers the ball at the B-2 and his momentum carries him into the end zone where he falls down.
RULING: B, free kick, B-20, free kick timing (25).
A88’s “punch”ing of the ball is legal batting, and results in a fumble by Team B. When B54 recovers the ball in the field of play and then travels into his own end zone, he is responsible for the ball becoming dead behind the goal line, and results in a safety. The “momentum rule” does not apply to catches/recoveries of a team’s own fumbles, passes, and kicks.
5. 4/10 @ A-20. Team B trails by 4 points late in the game. Punter A15 muffs the snap, and as he retreats to get to the ball, he intentionally kicks the loose ball at the A-4 backwards and out of the EZ as time expires in the 4th quarter.
RULING: B, 1/10, A-2, snap (25).
The natural result of the down is a safety (2 points for B). However, A15 commits a foul for Illegally kicking the ball. If accepted, the penalty is 10 yards (1/2 the distance) with 3 and 1 enforcement from the Basic Spot (the previous spot). In this case, the penalty would be from the spot of the foul, and includes Loss of Down. If accepted, Team B would be awarded a series at the A-2, with the opportunity to score a touchdown to take the lead, which is the most likely choice Team B would make.
6. 4/10 @ A-20. Team A punts and B44 catches the kick at the B-40 and returns it to the 50 where he fumbles. A21 recovers the fumble at the A-45. During the kick, A21 went OOB on his own at the A-35 and returned and established inbounds just before the fumble.
RULING: A, 4/10, A-20, snap (25).
A21 commits a foul for an illegal return inbounds. The penalty is 5 yards from the previous spot, and repeat the down. Due to the legal scrimmage kick, the play clock is 25, and starts on the Referee’s signal, and the game clock starts on the snap.
7. 4/12 @ A-30. Punter A44 receives the ball from the snapper, runs to the A-32, runs back to the A-28, and punts the ball. Receiver B22 makes a fair catch at the B-35.
RULING: B, 1/10, B-35, snap (25).
All action during this down is legal. There is no prohibition against the ball having been beyond the NZ, loose, or in possession of Team A before a change of team possession, and then punted/place kicked from in/behind the NZ. Due to the legal scrimmage kick, the play clock is 25, and starts on the Referee’s signal, and the game clock starts on the snap.
8. 2/8 @ A-22. A16 completes a pass to A88 at the 50. A88 advances to the B-45 where he runs OOB. B55 verbally taunted A79 during the pass at the A-18.
RULING: A, 1/10, B-30, ready (25).
B55 commits a live-ball Unsportsmanlike Conduct foul for taunting, which is penalized per 3 and 1 from the Basic Spot (end of the run), the B-45. The 15-yard penalty takes the ball to the B-30, and would include a first down (even if the yardage didn’t result in a first down). Due to the penalty completion, the play clock is 25 and will start on the Referee’s signal. Assuming this action is NOT occurring with less than 2 minutes in the 2nd or 4th periods, the game clock will start on the Referee’s signal.
