Haven't been perfect yet. Maybe this time (?).
1. 4/Goal @ B-5. Team A lines up to kick a field goal, and A94’s attempt is partially blocked by B60 at the B-4, and the ball continues in flight. The ball lands 2 yards deep in the end zone and B54 immediately picks up the ball and returns it back to the B-40 where he is downed.
RULING:
B, 1/10, B-15, snap (25).
Blocking of a kick that occurs within three yards beyond the NZ is ignored with regard to touching by Team B. (BTW, there is no such thing as “partial blocking;” if the ball is touched – in any amount - in the attempt to prevent the ball from crossing the neutral zone, it has been blocked, by definition.) Therefore, the legally kicked ball is untouched by B beyond the neutral zone when it lands (assumed to mean touches the ground) in the end zone. The ball is dead immediately when it touches the ground in the end zone. This is an unsuccessful field goal attempt made from inside the B-20, thus, by rule, the ball is placed at the B-20, and Team B is awarded a series.
The ruling above includes a 5-yard penalty for a Delay of Game foul by B54, on the assumption that game officials are sounding whistles and signaling for the game clock to stop. Since opponents are obviously pursuing him, his action with the ball places himself and opponents all at unnecessary risk of injury.
OK, so S/B apparently wouldn't want the DOG in this case. But, it occurs to me that, if not in this case, then when?
2. 4/Goal @ B-5. Team A lines up to kick a field goal, and A94’s attempt is partially blocked by B60 at the B-4, and the ball continues in flight. B54 attempts to catch the ball 2 yards deep in the end zone, muffs it and the ball lands in the end zone. B54 picks up the ball and returns it back to the B-40 where he is downed.
RULING:
B, 1/10, B-40, snap (25).
B54’s muff of the attempted catch of the legally kicked ball causes the ball to remain alive after it touches the ground in B’s end zone. B54's subsequent recovery and advance of the ball is all legal action, with Team B being awarded a series at the dead-ball spot.
3. 4/Goal @ B-5. Team A lines up to kick a field goal, and A94’s attempt is partially blocked by B60 at the B-4, and the ball continues in flight. B54 attempts to catch the ball 2 yards deep in the end zone, muffs it and the ball lands in the end zone. A77 dives on the loose ball in the end zone and gains firm control of the ball while down.
RULING:
A, try, B-3, no clock (40 and running).
B54’s muff of the attempted catch of the legally kicked ball causes the ball to remain alive after it touches the ground in B’s end zone. Either team may legally recover the ball; thus, when A77 recovers the ball, Team A is in legal possession of the ball beyond Team B’s goal line, which is a touchdown (6 points).
4. 4/Goal @ B-5. Team A lines up to kick a field goal, and A94’s attempt is partially blocked by B60 at the B-4, and the ball continues in flight. B54 attempts to catch the ball 2 yards deep in the end zone, muffs it and the ball rolls back into the field of play. A77 recovers the loose ball at the B-2 and runs into the end zone.
RULING:
A, 1/G, B-2, snap (25).
B54’s muff of the attempted catch of the legally kicked ball causes the ball to remain alive after it touches the ground in B’s end zone. Either team may legally recover the ball. Because the ball is now loose from legal scrimmage kick that has crossed the neutral zone, A77 may legally recover the ball, but he may not advance it. Team B is awarded new series at the spot of the recovery.
Note that, due to the legal kick down, the play clock is set to 25 seconds and will start on the referee’s signal, and the game clock will next start on the snap.
5. 3/10 @ A-35. Left Tackle A77 was injured on the 2nd down play. During the injury timeout, A88 changes jerseys to A78 and enters the game to replace A77. A78 does not report to the Referee. Team A completes a pass to A80, and he is downed inbounds at the A-45.
RULING:
A, 3/25, A-20, ready (25).
A88/A78 commits a live-ball foul for failing to report his number change to the Referee. The 15-yard penalty is enforced at the previous spot, and the down is repeated. A88/A87 has one UNS recorded on his UNS counter. (Note, suggest getting his name, since he could, possibly, wear a number also worn by as many as two other Team A players.)
6. 1/10 @ B-35. Late in the 4th quarter, out of timeouts, A12 completes a pass to A88 for a 1st down at the B-15 and A88 is tackled inbounds. The game clock is stopped with 0:02, and will start on the Referee’s signal. Team A hurries to the line and gets set and then the Referee blows the ready for play and starts the clock. A12 efficiently throws the ball directly into the ground and the clock is stopped with 0:01 after the incomplete pass.
RULING:
Regulation play has ended. Since we don’t know the score, we don’t know if the game is over, or an extra period is to be played.
By rule, there must be at least 3 seconds remaining in the game when the ball is declared ready for play (and game clock started) for Team A to be able to snap and ‘spike’ the ball immediately and have time remaining in the game. In this case, there were only 2 seconds, thus, time in the period expires, and regulation play has ended.
7. 1/10 @ B-35. Late in the 4th quarter Team A, out of timeouts, A12 completes a pass to A88 for a 1st down at the B-15 and A88 is tackled inbounds. The clock is stopped with 0:03 remaining. Team A intends to spike the ball and run an additional play. The referee appropriately blows his whistle and signals, which starts the game clock. A12 takes the snap and raises the ball high over his head before throwing it directly to the ground. The game clock shows 0:00 when the ball hits the ground.
RULING:
Regulation play has ended. Since we don’t know the score, we don’t know if the game is over, or an extra period is to be played.
Although there were three (3) seconds remaining in the period when the game clock was started, Team A must immediately snap, possess, and throw the ball to the ground (‘spike’ it forward) to have the expectation that there will be any time remaining in the period when the pass becomes incomplete. In this case, by raising the ball over his head, this is NOT considered throwing the ball immediately to the ground, and, thus, time in the period has expired, and regulation play has ended.
8. 3/10 @ A-35. Midway through the 1st quarter, QB A12 throws a pass that is intercepted by B21 at the A-45, and he returns the ball back to Team A’s endzone. B21 is unopposed as he approaches the goal line and flips into the end zone. B21 planted and started the flip at the A-1 and landed 3 yards deep in the endzone.
RULING:
B, 1/G, B-16 (oops, wrong end of the field - typo) A-16, snap (25).
No score. B21 commits a live-ball UNS foul for a bringing attention to himself. The penalty is enforced 15 yards from the spot of the foul, and Team B is awarded a series at that spot. B21 has one UNS foul recorded on his UNS counter.
