Quote:
Originally posted by BigGref
K's ball 4th and about 7 on their own 30. Snap is back, kick is blocked by R around the 20, ball scampers to about R's 5 when (a)R bats/muffs ball into endzone or (b)bats/muffs ball into and out of endzone, where bodies are everywhere and R finally gains possesion but he is on the end line. What do you got? and I'm sure yall won't screw it up as bad as we did, real bad.
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FED rules:
Since the thread title includes "80 yd screwup" I'll assume you really do mean that the kick went down the field to R's 5. Now we must discern between "bat" and "muff", because there is a significant difference.
In both (a) and (b) the kick ends when it breaks the plane of R's goal line. Simple - Touchback.
In both (a) and (b) if R "muffs" the kick, there is no foul and R puts the ball in play by a snap at their own 20 yard line.
In both (a) and (b) if R has "batted" the loose ball, he has committed a post-scrimmage kick foul. Since the result of the play was a touchback, the basic spot for enforcement is R's 20 yard line. Also, since R's PSK foul occurred behind the basic spot, it will be assessed as a spot foul from the 5 yard line. R will put the ball in play by a snap, 1st and 10 from the R 2-1/2 yard line.
Now if you really didn't mean that the ball went downfield and you intended to say the blocked kick "scampered" to
K's 5 yard line, there are many other factors to consider. First, the touching by R when the kick was blocked is ignored, so put it out of your mind.
Again we must discern between "bat" and "muff", but we now must also consider "force". If a new force was added to the loose ball by either R's bat OR muff, then R will be responsible for the ball entering K's end zone.
So, in (a) where the ball stays in the end zone, you must know: Did K or R recover the loose ball, or did it become dead not in player possession. If the muff did not add a new force to the grounded kick, it will be a safety if K recovers the loose ball. It will be a touchdown if R recovers the ball, or if no player recovers it and it becomes dead with no player in possession (an unlikely but possible event). If the muff
did add a new force, and this is a judgement call, then it will be a
touchback if K recovers the ball, but it will still be a touchdown if R recovers, or no player recovers, the loose ball.
In (b) if the muff did not add a new force it will be a safety, if the muff did add a new force it will be a touchback.
Now consider a "bat." Batting is an intentional act that will not likely be done by R near K's end zone. It's possible, but not likely since R will probably be attempting to recover the ball. More often, you will see batting by K. However, consider that R did bat the ball at K's 5 yard line. Since batting is an intentional act, you will most likely rule that, from 5 yards out, the bat added a new force. I certainly would. Therefore, in (a) if K recovers the ball it will be a touchback. If R recovers the ball it will be a touchdown. In (b) it will be a touchback.
But batting is a live ball loose ball foul that is administered from the previous spot, thus negating the touchback or touchdown if - (should I say
when?) - accepted. After enforcement, K's ball, 1st and 10 at K's 45 yard line.
Whew!!
So, BigGref, what
did you do?