Momentum rule

[kcnoles33]

We've been having a long discussion on this question.  Defensive player intercepts the ball at the 3 yard line, his momentum carries him into the endzone.  He fumbles the ball in the endzone and it goes out at the 5 yard line.  Where is the ball placed to start the series? 

[BrendanP]

My gut tells me it'd be 1st and 10 at the five, and after scouring the NFHS rulebook (assuming that's the level you're talking about) I found precisely nothing regarding a situation like this. Good scenario though, good food for thought.

[bossman72]

NCAA: forward fumble OOB goes back to the spot of the fumble.  Momentum applies.  B 1/10 @ B3.

NFHS: B 1/10 @ B5.

[kcnoles33]

Reply Yes it is NFHS.  At our association meeting it was 50/50.

[theunofficialofficial]

NCAA: forward fumble OOB goes back to the spot of the fumble.  Momentum applies.  B 1/10 @ B3.

NFHS: B 1/10 @ B5.

+1 for both codes.

EXCEPTION: When a defensive player intercepts an opponent’s forward pass; intercepts or recovers an opponent’s fumble or backward pass; or an R player catches or recovers a scrimmage kick or free kick between his 5-yard line and the goal line, and his original momentum carries him into the end zone where the ball is declared dead in his team’s possession or it goes out of bounds in the end zone, the ball belongs to the team in possession at the spot where the pass or fumble was intercepted or recovered or the kick was caught or recovered.

In your op the ball became dead out of bounds from the field of play - not the end zone. Thus it's the B5.

[yarnnelg]

Missing ingredients here.
Player catches at the three, momentum takes him into the endzone. End of story.
What action caused the fumble?
When did the fumble occur?
Did he leave the endzone?

If he stops in the endzone because he's a savy football player and knows he's safe there, and the ball is punched out of his hands by team B going OOB at the five. The ball is team A's at the three.