7-4-3-c

[sj]

Need clarity on 7-4-3-c -- The ball belongs to the passing team unless lost after fourth down if a fumble or backward pass: (c) becomes dead in-bounds anywhere while opponents are in joint possession.

1) Third down. A is in a shotgun formation. The snap goes over the head of the QB and into the end zone where the ball becomes dead with opponents in joint possession.

The ball belongs to A - Safety – two points for B

But now it’s fourth down.

2)   Fourth down and K is punting. The snap goes over the punters head and goes into K's end zone where it's jointly recovered by an R and a K player.

Is it correct that since it’s fourth down the ball belongs to B and this would be a touchdown for B?

[ncwingman]

That would be a safety.

The ball in joint possession is "awarded" to the team in team possession (K, in your situation), and then the status of the play is evaluated.

If, after the joint possession is disambiguated, the result of the 4th down play is A/K in possession of ball behind the line to gain, the the ball is turned over on downs to B/R and they are awarded a first down. If the joint possession occurs in A/K's end zone, the result of the play is the dead ball in A's end zone, and therefore a safety, prior to any evaluation of whether A/K reached the line to gain.

B/R is not awarded the ball during a joint possession situation, unless they were multiple COP and B/R was in team possession before the last loose ball.