My responses to (most of) the S-B Quiz 4. As always, I make no guarantees.
1. A, 4/15, A-15, snap (25). Illegal return inbounds by A21. 5-yard penalty at previous spot, since A was in legal possession of the ball at the end of the down. Although A21’s return to the field was illegal, his actions in the field of play, including recovery of the ball, are all, otherwise, legal. Play clock to 25 and the game clock next starts on the snap, due to the legal kick down.
2. A, 1/10, A-45, 25, snap. By the new 2020 editorial change, A21’s departure and return to the field AFTER the end of the kick play is legal. No fouls or other items on this down. Play clock to 25 and the game clock next starts on the snap, due to the legal kick down.
3. A, F/K, A-30, free kick timing (25). A87’s block is illegal because he was not yet eligible to touch the ball at that time. Because Team A was in legal possession of the ball at the end of the down, the penalty is enforced at the previous spot and the down repeated. Play clock to 25 and the game clock next starts per free kick timing rules.
4. A, 1/10, A-32, snap (25). B99’s block of the snapper is illegal, and occurred before the kick play started. Team A will obviously accept the penalty at the previous spot, with the automatic first down, and decline the illegal block in the back foul by B16. Play clock to 25 and the game clock next starts on the snap, due to the legal kick down.
5. A, 3/10, A-40, snap (40). There is no suggestion of a foul here, although the author may have been wanting to suggest the pass may have been subject to intentional grounding. But, in the absence of anything that more definitely suggests a foul, there is no foul on this play – next down. The play clock is at 40 and running after the dead-ball, and the game clock next starts on the snap.
6. A, 1/10, B-20, ready (25). Personal fouls by B during a pass play may be added to the end of the last run, if there is no change of team possession during the down. D90’s personal foul (hands to the face) is enforced at the B-35, to the B-20. Play clock to 25 and the game clock next starts on the referee’s signal, since the down ended inbounds.
7. Play continues. By 2019 official interpretation, an airborne player in full control of the ball is to be treated as though he is a ball carrier, with respect to an OB player that might touch the ball before the airborne player returns to the ground (thus, completing a catch/recovery of the ball). Thus, the ball remains alive and in play. In the given statement, there is no indication of the down ending, so play simply continues.
8. B, 1/10, B-30, snap (25). A30 commits Kick Catch Interference, which would be penalized from the spot of the foul (15 yards). That result is not as advantageous to Team B as the result of the down, so Team B will decline the penalty and accept the result of the down. Play clock to 25 and the game clock next starts on the snap, due to the legal kick down.
I’ll let somebody else address the Replay questions.
