QUIZ ANSWERS: 2014 WEEK #6


1. RULING: A 1/goal B8; Ready. Adjust the game clock to the time on the clock when A33 recovers A16’s fumble. The ball becomes dead when recovered by A33. This was A16’s second fumble during the down. There are two running plays during the down that involve a run by A16. The foul occurred during the running play that included A16’s first fumble, behind the neutral zone, so the basic spot is the previous spot. The 15-yard penalty is enforced half the distance from the previous spot, B's 16, and includes a first down.


2. RULING: Touchdown. B try A3. A64 commits an illegal motion foul which is a live ball foul. This is not a false start since A64 did not simulate action at the snap. This is not a false start due to an illegal shift of the second kind. It is not even a shift. The penalty is declined by rule. If A64 was moving with the rest of the Team A players prior to the snap and never set, then the foul would be a dead ball foul.


3. RULING: B 1/10 B12. Postscrimmage kick enforcement applies. The 15-yard penalty is enforced half the distance from the spot of the foul, B’s 24. If the kick was successful, Team A could accept the three points or decline the points and accept a 15-yard penalty from the previous spot. If they accept the points, the penalty against B56 is declined by rule.


4. RULING: Fourth extra period. Try ends. No score. The score remains A42-B42. Penalties for live ball fouls against either team after a change of team possession are declined by rule. If the ball went out of bounds in B's end zone, with or without a bat by Team B, the result of the play is a one point safety. The impetus is the fumble by B44. The final score would be A43-B42.


5. RULING: A 2/16 B26. Offensive pass interference. The pass is legal since the passer received the snap, was out of the tackle box when he passed the ball and the ball landed beyond the neutral zone. Thus, eligible receiver A88 must avoid opponents beyond the neutral zone. The 15-yard penalty for the offensive pass interference is enforced from the previous spot, B's 11. If the ball landed behind the neutral zone, it would be an illegal forward pass and there would be no pass interference. Common sense is a must in football officiating. However, overlooking a foul on this play is equivalent to penalizing the defense. NOTE: The neutral zone is defined in Rule 2-17-1. There is no such animal as an "expanded neutral zone".


6. RULING: Safety. Game over. The final score is A30-B28. The ball became dead when it touched the ground in B's end zone since the status of the ball is still a kick and no player of Team B touched the ball after the kick crossed the neutral zone. The impetus for the ball being in B's end zone is the illegal kicking by B96. Team A will decline the penalty for the illegal kicking foul by B96. The result would be the same if B96 batted the ball backward although it would not be a foul.


7. RULING: A f/k A35. The try ends. There is no score. B67 is disqualified. The fouls are offsetting with the try not replayed since Team B did not foul prior to the change of team possession (8-3-4-c). The penalty for B67's flagrant personal foul is not enforced on the kickoff since the foul is part of offsetting fouls. If B67 had not fouled, the try would be replayed (8-3-3-c-3). There was a score so the penalty is not declined by rule. B67 may have saved the game if the score was tied late in the fourth quarter. If the play was a field goal attempt and not a try, the down would be replayed.


Rom Gilbert / pigskin@romgilbert.us / September 29, 2014 / (q-1406a)