First Touch and Foul on Scrimmage Kick

[SanDiegoStryker]

4/12 at A-40. K22 punts the ball. During the kick there is a holding foul by R45 at the 50. The ball hits the ground and is first touched by K81 but continues bouncing down field. R88 gain possession and begins his return. The ball is fumbled, recovered by K and advanced for a touchdown.

What would the final result be?

[VALJ]

OK, I'll take a whack at this one...

PSK doesn't apply, since K would be the next to put the ball into play. 

If K declines the holding penalty, R retains the right to put the ball in play at the spot of first touching. 

The foul is a loose-ball foul, so (if enforced) it would be from the previous spot.  4/2 @ the 50.

[bama_stripes]

As long as R doesn't foul, they retain the right to take the ball at the FT spot.   K will likely accept the penalty from the previous spot.  4th & 2 from the 50.

[SanDiegoStryker]

Thanks! That's what I thought too, just wanted to make sure I had my head on straight.

[ECILLJ]

Our crew is in disagreement with the interpretation. Since the holding by R was prior to the first touching by K. It seems by rule that R has the right to have the ball at the spot of first touching.

ART. 5 . . . When any K player touches a scrimmage kick beyond the expanded
neutral zone to R’s goal line before it is touched beyond the neutral zone by R
and before the ball has come to rest, it is referred to as “first touching of the kick”
and the place is the “spot of first touching.” Such touching is ignored if it is
caused by R pushing or blocking K into contact with the ball.
If any K player touches a scrimmage kick in this manner, R may take the ball at
the spot of first touching, or any spot if there is more than one spot of first touching,
or they may choose to have the ball put in play as determined by the action which
follows first touching. The right of R to take the ball at spot of first touching by K is
canceled if R touches the kick and thereafter during the down commits a foul or if
the penalty is accepted for any foul committed during the down.

[Curious]

VALJ has the right answer here.  But there is another option....

R's foul is NOT post-scrimmage kick because they are NOT next to put the ball in play (K recovered R's fumble); so it's a loose ball play with previous spot enforcement.

K's first touching is ignored if K accepts R's foul (See 2012 Case Book play 6.2.5C). 

In this play, to keep R from getting the ball at the spot of 1st touching, K must accept the penalty - making it 4th & 2 for them (so no TD)...OR, depending on where the first touch occurred and time left to play, they K could decline R's penalty and potentially pin R deep in R's end.

[mbyron]

VALJ has the right answer here.  But there is another option....

R's foul is NOT post-scrimmage kick because they are NOT next to put the ball in play (K recovered R's fumble); so it's a loose ball play with previous spot enforcement.

K's first touching is ignored if K accepts R's foul (See 2012 Case Book play 6.2.5C). 

In this play, to keep R from getting the ball at the spot of 1st touching, K must accept the penalty - making it 4th & 2 for them (so no TD)...OR, depending on where the first touch occurred and time left to play, they K could decline R's penalty and potentially pin R deep in R's end.

+1

[Atlanta Blue]

Our crew is in disagreement with the interpretation. Since the holding by R was prior to the first touching by K. It seems by rule that R has the right to have the ball at the spot of first touching.

Only if K declines the foul on R.  You highlighted the wrong phrase.  Look at the last phrase in the rule you posted:

"or if the penalty is accepted for any foul committed during the down."

Since K will accept the penalty for R's holding, the right to first touching is lost.  And since R wouldn't be the next to put the ball in play, PSK is lost as well.

Back to the previous spot for enforcement.