OK, the answers for this quiz are already available, but I just got access to RefQuest, and just got the quiz. So, I have not looked at their answers. Let's see how I did.
S-B Quiz 2023-03
1. 4/Goal @ B-3. A44 sweeps right end and fumbles at the B-2. B21 recovers at the B-1 and returns to midfield and fumbles. A12 recovers at the B-48 and returns to the B-2 and fumbles the ball forward into the end zone. A88 recovers while grounded in the end zone.
RULING:
A, Try, B-3, no clock (40 and running).
The 4th down fumble rule on a regular scrimmage down only applies prior to a change of team possession. Thereafter, either team is free to catch/recover/advance a ball fumbled by either team. A88’s recovery in B’s end zone results in a touchdown, 6-points for Team A. Team A will attempt a Try.
2. Try @ B-3. A44 sweeps right end and fumbles at the B-2. B21 recovers at the B-1 and returns to midfield and fumbles. A12 recovers at the B-48 and returns to the B-2 and fumbles the ball forward into the end zone. A88 recovers while grounded in the end zone.
RULING:
A, kickoff, A-35, free kick clock rules (25).
By 2023 rule change (via editorial change), the special fumble rule on a Try applies to Team A (only), and applies during the entire down, regardless of any change of team possession. A88’s recovery of A12’s fumble in advance of the spot of the fumble causes the ball to be returned to the spot of the fumble, and the down is over – no score. Team A will next kick off.
3. 3/5 @ B-20, late in the 4th Quarter with Team A trailing by 5 points. A11 carries to the B-14 where he is injured when tackled inbounds by B79. When stopped, the clock reads 0:05, and Team A has no time outs remaining.
RULING:
A, 1/10, B-14, ready (no play clock).
Because the clock was stopped for the first down, there is no option for a 10-second subtraction from the game clock. As soon as A11 is clear of the field, both teams will be notified that the game clock will start on the referee’s signal, and the referee will declare the ball ready for play and start the game clock.
4. 3/5 @ B-20, late in the 4th Quarter with Team A trailing by 5 points. A11 carries to the B-16 where he is injured when tackled inbounds by B79. When stopped, the clock reads 0:05, and Team A has no time outs remaining.
RULING:
Game over.
Because the game clock was stopped only for the injury to A11 during the last minute of the (2nd or) 4th period, Team B has the option of a 10-second subtraction from the game clock, which they will accept to end the game.
5. 4/10 @ A-40. Late in the 3rd quarter, A90 punts and the ball is coming down to B21 who is in position to receive the ball at the B-18. A80 interferes with B21’s opportunity to catch a kick and the ball bounces to the B-10 where the kick is dead. When the ball is declared dead, the game clock reads 0:00.
RULING:
B, 1/10, B-33, snap (25); 15:00 (4).
Team B will accept the 15-yard penalty for KCI foul, which is 15 yards from the spot of the foul (B-18), taking the ball to the B-33. Following enforcement of the penalty and establishment of the line-to-gain at the current end of the field, by 2023 rule change, the third period will be declared ended, and the ball (and line-to-gain chains) will be transferred to the 33 yard line at the opposite end of the field, and the teams will change the goal lines that they will be defending, to begin the 4th period.
6. Free Kick @ A-35. Late in the 2nd quarter, A90’s squib kick is recovered by B80 at the B-25 and returned to the A-35. The game clock expires during the return and A44 was offside on the kick.
RULING:
B, 1/10, A-30, snap (25); 0:00 (2).
Team B will accept the 5-yard penalty for the offside foul, enforced at the succeeding spot, and the 2nd period will be extended for Team B to put the ball in play by snap for an untimed down at the spot where the penalty leaves the ball (A-30). (Note: Team B COULD accept the penalty at the previous spot and have Team A repeat the kickoff, but that would be unlikely.)
7. 3/10 @ A-30. Back A21 is stationary and is lined up in the tackle box. Just after the snap A21 immediately releases outside the tackle box. QB A12 is in the pocket to pass and A21 sees linebacker B54 blitzing. A21 returns into the tackle box and before A12 throws the pass, blocks B54 below the waist in the tackle box and the block is directed from the front. A12’s pass is complete for a 15-yard gain.
RULING:
A, 3/25, A-15, ready (25).
Because A21 left the tackle box, he is prohibited from blocking below the waist anywhere on the field for the remainder of the down. Team B will accept the 15-yard penalty for the illegal BBW, enforced at the previous spot, taking the ball to the A-15, and 3rd down will be repeated.
8. 3/10 @ A-30. Midway through the 2nd quarter, back A21 is stationary and is lined up in the tackle box. Just after the snap, A21 immediately steps up and blocks blitzing linebacker B55 1-yard beyond the neutral zone. The block is below the waist and directed from the front. QB A12 then throws a legal forward pass that is complete inbounds for a 15-yard gain.
RULING:
A, 3/25, A-15, ready (25).
Although back A21 was within the tackle box and stationary at the snap, he is NOT permitted to block opponents below the waist outside the tackle box. The tackle box does not extend beyond the neutral zone. (Note: A Team A lineman within the width of the tackle box – not a back – may initiate a block below the waist up to one yard beyond the tackle box.) Team B will accept the 15-yard penalty for the illegal BBW, enforced at the previous spot, taking the ball to the A-15, and 3rd down will be repeated.
A, 1/10, A-45, game clock running (40 and running).
2023 AR 9-1-6-XIII offers the interpretation that a block below the waist from the front made by a Team A player that was within the tackle box, and stationary, at the snap, initiated up to one yard beyond the neutral (the forward boundary of the tackle box, as currently defined) is legal. Thus, all players of Team A who are within the tackle box and stationary at the snap are allowed to make otherwise legal blocks below the waist that are initiated up to one yard beyond the neutral zone. Of course, if any of those players leave the tackle box, there is no blocking below the waist allowed by those players, anywhere on the field, for the remainder of the down. And, once the ball leaves the tackle box, there is no blocking below the waist allowed by any player of either team, anywhere on the field, for the remainder of the down.
Actually, Team B can't BBW after their 'initial charge,' which would most certainly be over before the ball could leave the tackle box. So, effectively, the same. Although, I suppose it would be possible for a snapper to snap (backward pass) the ball at a sharp angle toward the sideline, and the ball would leave the TB before anybody could get out of their stances. I guess we'd still give both teams their "initial charge" allowance to BBW.
