[mikesears]

I'm with Bob M on this one.



Here is the Series of Downs rule with the "conflicting" rules. (Rule 5-1-3):

When a scrimmage down ends with the ball in the field of play or out of bounds between the goal lines, a new series is awarded to:

B, if at the end of the fourth down, the ball belongs to A behind the line to gain.


The team in possession at the end of the down, if R is the first to touch a scrimmage kick while it is beyond the expanded neutral zone, unless the penalty is accepted for a non post-scrimmage kick foul which occurred before the kick ended.


In my opinion the more specific rule that deals with our situation is the 2nd rule BECAUSE it involves R touching a scrimmage kick beyond the ENZ. That act will give the TEAM in possession of the ball a new series when the down ends. Team possession did not change during the down. An incomplete forward pass does not change team possession. Team A still has team possession.


Let's remove the incomplete pass totally from the equation. What would the ruling be? Which rule takes precedence?



[Edited by mikesears on Mar 9th, 2005 at 10:59 AM]