With the new rules, I can not claim to have nailed these. We shall see.
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1. Free Kick @ A-35. A98 kicks the ball high and B21 gives the “T” signal while the ball is in the air standing one yard in the endzone. The ball lands at the B-5, bounces and then lands in B’s end zone where A44 recovers with his knee down.
RULING:
B, 1/10, B-25, snap (40 and running).
Although the “T” signal is an invalid signal, it is not a foul. When the untouched ball lands in B’s end zone, the ball is dead, immediately. The ball being secured by ANY player thereafter is meaningless. The ball is placed at the B-25, where Team B will next snap the ball, 1/10.
This is another example of an oddly worded question. Even if A44 ‘recovered’ the ball (as defined) before it landed on the ground in the end zone, the fact that his knee was on the ground would be completely immaterial. His recovery of the ball, in, and of, itself, causes the ball to become dead (and would be a touchdown), whether he was upright, or with something other than hand or foot on the ground. Why include the statement about his knee being on the ground? Mystifying. But, whoever recruited this guy for Team A should get a raise. Kid’s got some serious speed.
2. 4/1 @ B-40. Midway through the 4th quarter with the clock running, the offense and defense are set at the line and QB A12 is under center. A12, as a part of his cadence, yells “move” without any action that simulates action at the snap. B75 jumps into the neutral zone causing A77 to react and jump back.
RULING:
A, 4/6, B-45, ready (25).
Per 2025 rule change, Team A may NOT use the word “move” as part of their snap cadence. (Note: A reaction by Team B is not required.) This is a dead-ball foul for delay of game, and is a five-yard penalty from the succeeding spot.
3. 2/10 @ B-45. After the Two-Minute Timeout in the 4th quarter, back A21 catches a swing pass at the B-47 and runs down to the B-37 and is tackled inbounds. After the ball is spotted but not yet ready for play, B55 is moving back to the line of scrimmage, looks to the sideline and then goes down injured at the B-35. The clock is stopped at 1:02 for the injury and Team B is out of timeouts. Play clock?
RULING:
Insufficient information, i.e., the score.
If Team A is ahead in score:
A, 1/10, B-32, 0:52 (4), ready (40).
Team B is charged with a time-out; however, since they have no times-out available, they are assessed a 5-yard penalty for a delay-of-game foul. The penalty places the ball beyond the line-to-gain, resulting in a new series for Team A. Since the clock was stopped only for the injury, Team A has the option of a 10-second subtraction, which they will ACCEPT. By Sec-Ed interpretation, the play clock is set to 40 seconds. The game and play clock will start on the referee’s signal. B55 may not participate in the next down.
If Team A is behind (or tied) in score:
A, 1/10, B-32, 1:02 (4), snap (40).
Team B is charged with a time-out; however, since they have no times-out available, they are assessed a 5-yard penalty for a delay-of-game foul. The penalty places the ball beyond the line-to-gain, resulting in a new series for Team A. Since the clock was stopped only for the injury, Team A has the option of a 10-second subtraction, which they will DECLINE. By Sec-Ed interpretation, the play clock is set to 40 seconds. The play clock will start on the referee’s signal, and game clock will start on the snap. B55 may not participate in the next down.
4. 2/10 @ B-45. After the Two-Minute Timeout in the 4th quarter, back A21 catches a swing pass at the B-47 and runs down to the B-37 and is tackled inbounds. After the ball is spotted but not yet ready for play, B55 is moving back to the line of scrimmage, looks to the sideline and then goes down injured at the B-35. The clock is stopped at 1:02 for the injury and Team B has one timeout remaining. Play clock?
RULING:
A, 2/2, B-37, snap (25).
Team B is charged with a time-out for the injury. Because of the charged team time-out, the play clock is set to 25 seconds, and will start on the referee’s signal. The game clock will start on the snap. There is no option for a 10-second subtraction because of the charged team time-out. B55 may not participate in the next down.
5. 2/10 @ B-45. Team B leads 24 -21. After the Two-Minute Timeout in the 4th quarter, back A21 catches a swing pass at the B-47 and runs down to the B-33 and is tackled inbounds. After the ball is spotted but not yet ready for play, B55 is moving back to the line of scrimmage, looks to the sideline and then goes down injured at the B-35. The clock was stopped at 1:02 for the 1st down and Team B is out of timeouts. Play Clock?
RULING:
A, 1/10, B-33, snap (40).
Team B is charged with a time-out; however, since they have no times-out available, they are assessed a 5-yard penalty for a delay-of-game foul. 3-4-3-b gives the offended team the option to have the game clock start on the snap. By Sec-Ed interpretation, the play clock is set to 40 seconds. The play clock will start on the referee’s signal, and game clock will start on the snap. B55 may not participate in the next down.
6. 3/10 @ B-30. After the Two-Minute Timeout in the 4th quarter, neither team has a timeout remaining and Team B leads by 3 points. Team A completes a pass over the middle and A88 is tackled inbounds at the B-15 for a first down. A88 remains on the ground and the Referee declares an official’s timeout for injury. There is 0:05 on the game clock.
RULING:
A, 1/10, B-15, 0:05 (4) ready (40).
The game clock was also stopped for the first down; thus, there is no option for a 10-second subtraction. A88 presented as injured BEFORE the ball was spotted for the succeeding down; thus, when the injured player is off the field and the ball is ready for play, the play clock will (nonsensically) be set to 40 seconds for the defensive injury, and both clocks will start on the referee’s signal. A88 may not participate in the next down.
7. 3/10 @ B-30. After the Two-Minute Timeout in the 4th quarter, neither team has a timeout remaining and Team B leads by 3 points. Team A completes a pass over the middle and A88 is tackled inbounds at the B-15 for a first down. A88 remains on the ground and the Referee declares an official’s timeout for injury. There is 0:15 on the game clock.
RULING:
A, 1/10, B-15, 0:05 (4) ready (40).
The game clock was also stopped for the first down; thus, there is no option for a 10-second subtraction. A88 presented as injured BEFORE the ball was spotted for the succeeding down; thus, when the injured player is off the field and the ball is ready for play, the play clock will (nonsensically) be set to 40 seconds for the defensive injury, and both clocks will start on the referee’s signal. A88 may not participate in the next down.
8. 3/10 @ B-25. During the second possession series of the second extra period with the score tied, B25 intercepts A12’s pass and carries the ball across Team A’s goal line. During the run, B79 blocks below the waist at midfield.
RULING:
1/G, B-3, no game clock (25).
The penalty for B79’s non-flagrant personal foul for BBW is declined by rule, and the apparent score is canceled. Following a 2-minute break (or media T/O), the game will proceed to the third extra period, in which each team gets one down played by modified Try rules (field goals have no point value). The team putting the ball in play is determined by which team has the first choice in accordance with which team won/lost/deferred the coin toss for the first extra period.
