These are a bit tougher.
13
1. 1/10 @ A-35. QB A12 takes the snap from shotgun formation, scrambles and begins a throwing motion at the A-30. The hand starts forward, and then A12 starts to bring the ball back to his body and the ball slips from his hand and lands at the A-33. B55 recovers the ball while grounded at that point.
RULING:
B, 1/10, A-33, snap (25).
When A12 started to bring the ball back toward his body in full control of the ball, the subsequent loss of control of the ball is a fumble. B55’s recovery is legal, and B is awarded a series at the spot of the recovery.
2. 1/10 @ B-25. A12 throws a pass downfield and B44 intercepts the pass at the B-3. B44’s momentum carries him into the end zone where he fumbles. The ball rolls back into the field of play. A33 recovers at the B-2 but he is hit and fumbles. The ball rolls into the end zone and over the end line.
RULING:
B, 1/10, B-20, snap (25).
The team last in possession was Team A, and A33’s fumble provided the impetus that caused the loose ball to become dead behind B’s goal line, resulting in a touchback.
3. 3/5 @ B-20. A12’s legal forward pass is intercepted by Defensive back B44 in his own end zone. While still in the end zone, B44 fumbles the ball. The ball rolls forward, goes back into the field of play, and in the scramble for the ball at the B-2, the ball goes back into the end zone where B44 recovers while grounded.
RULING:
B, Free Kick, B-20, free kick timing (25)
When the ball traveled into the field of play from B44’s fumble, and traveled back into B’s end zone and became dead in B’s team possession behind B’s goal line, the impetus was from B44’s fumble, resulting in a safety - 2 points for Team A, with a free kick by B to follow from the B-20.
4. 3/5 @ B-20. A12’s legal forward pass is intercepted by Defensive back B44 in his own end zone. While still in the end zone, B44 fumbles the ball, and it rolls forward back into the field of play. In the scramble for the ball, A33 intentionally kicks the ball at the B-2 into the end zone and over the end line.
RULING:
B, 1/10, B-30, snap (25).
The natural result of the down is a touchback, since the kicking of the loose ball by A33 provided the impetus for the loose ball to become dead behind B’s goal line. The kicking of the ball is a foul for illegally kicking the ball, which is penalized per 3 & 1, with the Basic Spot being the succeeding spot, since there was a change of team possession in B’s end zone, and the result of the down was a touchback. The 10-yard penalty is enforced from the Basic Spot, which is the succeeding spot, and Team B is awarded a series at that spot.
5. 1/10 @ B-40. With the ball ready for play and the game clock running, the center judge is in his regular position. Team A quickly replaces two players with substitutes, gets set for the required one second and snaps the ball. The center judge is attempting to get to the ball to allow the defense to match up, but he is unable to prevent the snap. A44 runs for 5 yards and is down inbounds.
RULING:
A, 1/10, B-40, ready (25). The game officials must stop all action, and not allow Team A to snap the ball. Any non-personal foul action after the snapper begins to move the ball for an ostensible snap is disregarded. The ball is re-spotted for 1st down, and Team B is allowed to make desired substitutions. Team A is warned that a second attempt to snap the ball before Team B has had opportunity make substitutions will result in a foul for unsportsmanlike conduct. Time on the game clock is restored, as necessary, to the point that Team A attempted to snap the ball. The play clock is set to 25 seconds, and both clocks are started on the referee’s signal.
6. 3/10 @ A-10. Team B trails by 4 points. With the clock running late in the 4th quarter and the ball ready for play, B77 crosses the neutral zone and touches a Team A player. The clock is stopped with 0:50 remaining, and Team B has no timeouts remaining. Include the play clock status in the answer.
RULING:
Game over. DOF by B77 causes the game clock to stop, with less than 1:00 remaining in the 4th period, thus, qualifying for the 10-second subtraction, causing the game clock to be set at 0:40. The deliberate nature of the foul to conserve time is cause for the referee to invoke 3-4-3, and have the play clock set to 40 seconds, and the game clock started. The play clock would not run, and Team A would not have to snap the ball, effectively ending the game.
Well, they don't seem to think B77's action are egregious enough to justify invocation of 3-4-3. But, what more does it take? What we don't know is how much time had run off the play clock. Say it was still more than 25. By committing the foul, he forces Team A to snap the ball with more time on the clock than if the play clock had run down to 25 or less. I like 3-4-3, and set the play clock to 40. But, I'm not in charge.
7. 2/10 @ B-40. Late in the second quarter, Team A is out of timeouts, and Team B has 1 timeout remaining. A21 runs to the B-35 where he is tackled inbounds. B55’s helmet comes off near the end of the play and when the ball becomes dead the game clock is stopped and reads 0:45 remaining in the second quarter. Include the play clock status in the answer.
RULING:
A, 3/5, B-35, 0:45 (2), snap (25).
The helmet coming off stops the game clock, thus, qualifying for a 10-second subtraction from the game clock. However, Team B would mostly likely take their final time out to avoid the 10SS.
8. 2/10 @ A-35. Ball carrier A21 is tackled inbounds at the A-40. The clock is then stopped for an injuries to both B55 and A21. While both players are being attended to, the referee grants a media timeout. Include the play clock status in the answer.
RULING:
A, 3/5, A-40, ready (40).
The media time out has no effect on the game clock status, thus, the game clock will re-start on the referee’s signal. The defensive injury ‘trumps’ the offensive injury with regard to the play clock, so the play clock will be set to 40 seconds and will start on the referee’s signal.
