MAC Championship Game

[Curious]

Interesting play in the game last night.  Miami of Ohio's QB back to throw from inside the NIU's 10 - 4th down.  QB's arm (not the ball) was hit causing a short "pass" caught behind the line by Miami's #70.  He ran the ball to inside the 1 where he fumbled into the end zone.  The ball was then recovered by Miami in the EZ.

The crew flagged the Illegal Touching and ruled (I guess because it was a fumble forward on 4th down) that the ball became dead at the spot of the fumble.  Seems to me (HS official) that they got it right - although the R did not explain about the 4th down forward fumble rule.

Right? 

[TXMike]

Are you sure it was 4th down and not a PAT attempt?  The box score only shows something like what you described on a PAT attempt.  Sounds like it was handled correctly either way

[Curious]

Are you sure it was 4th down and not a PAT attempt?  The box score only shows something like what you described on a PAT attempt.  Sounds like it was handled correctly either way

Now that you mention it, it very well could have been a 2-pt PAT attempt.  I was already on my 3rd vodka....

But it's handled the same way I guess.

Here's a question, what if NIU had made an Int on the play, then fumbled, and Miami picked it up?  Could they run it in for 2pts?

[TXMike]

Yep  After a change in team possession that "4th down fumble" rule disappears

[Kalle]

I don't think they got it right...

If they flagged A70 for illegal touching, they must have ruled a legal forward pass, not a fumble. The ball never becomes dead for an illegal touching of a legal forward pass and the penalty is five yards from the previous spot, repeat the down.

If they ruled a fumble, they should not have had a flag for illegal touching, and the ball would have become dead when caught/recovered by any other team A player than the fumbler.

[TXMike]

There was a legal fwd pass, illegally touched by inelig A who caught and then fumbled.  Team a recovered the fumble in the EZ.  It was handled right

[Kalle]

Ah yes, I didn't (once again) read the whole play.

[cougar729]

It was a try, QB hit ball thrown forward, lineman catches it and dives
For endzone but prior to ball crossing plane he is hit and fumbles, ball rolls into endzone and is recovered by team A. Ruling was a foul for illegal touching was declined because the 4th down fumble rule (in effect on the try) make the ball dead at the spot of the fumble which is at the half, roughly, therefore the try is unsuccessful, the crew got it right, good work on a tricky play