QUIZ ANSWERS: 2014 WEEK #9


1. RULING: Game over. The final score is A26-B28. The timeout signal is ignored as far as ZAP 10 is concerned. Team A did not earn a first down so the game clock would not have stopped. ZAP 10 applies because of the injury to A66 that would have stopped the game clock. If Team A had earned a first down, ZAP 10 would not apply.


2. RULING: A 1/goal B2. Extend the period. The result of the play is a touchback. The penalty is enforced from the end of the last run when that run ends beyond the neutral zone and there is no change of team possession during the down. There was no change of team possession during the down. At no time during the down did Team B have possession. (8-6-2).


3. RULING: A 1/10 A30. Postscrimmage kick enforcement does not apply. Rule 10-2-3-b-4, changed in 2011, states, "Team B will next put the ball in play". After the down ends, Team A would next put the ball in play since the result of the play is a touchback. If Team A declines the penalty for B66's holding foul, then Team B will take the ball at the spot of illegal touching, A's 42. Team A will accept the penalty. The 10-yard penalty will be enforced from the previous spot, A's 20.


4. RULING: A 3/7 B27; Ready. The penalty is declined. This is considered a backward pass thrown out of bounds to conserve time. The clock starts on the ready whether the penalty is accepted or declined (3-4-3). If less than one minute remained in the half and the penalty was declined, there would be no ZAP 10 and the clock would start on the snap. Also, if less than one minute remained in the half, the penalty was accepted and ZAP 10 elected, the clock would start on the ready. Rule 3-4-3 does not apply with less than one minute in a half. The penalty must be accepted for the ZAP 10 election option when the game clock is under one minute in either half.


5. RULING: Touchdown. A try B3. The goal line plane extends beyond the pylon only for a ball carrier who touches the ground in the end zone or touches the pylon. The ball is penetrating the goal line plane beyond the pylon when A33 touched the pylon before the ball was declared out of bounds. In 2010, it would have been B 1/10 B3. (8-2-1-a)


6. RULING: A 4/37 A3; Ready. Unsportsmanlike conduct foul by A33 during a live ball. The 15-yard penalty is enforced half the distance from the spot of the foul, A's 6. It is legal to push an opponent in the back to recover this backward pass. NOTE: Rule 10-2-2-b does not include unsportsmanlike fouls in the list of fouls committed behind the neutral zone.


7. RULING: Safety. A f/k A20. A4 commits an illegal kicking the ball foul (not an illegal kick foul) by kicking the backward pass. The 10-yard penalty is enforced from the spot of the foul (A's end zone) and results in a safety. A snap is a backward pass. The result of the play is A 1/10 A21.


Rom Gilbert / pigskin@romgilbert.us / October 22, 2014/ (q-1409a)