[SoGARef]

I think everyone is making this too difficult. First of all the clock stopped because the down ended following a foul. I think everyone will agree that a foul occurred during the down as stated in the description. Once the clock is stopped and the next play is not a free kick, it starts on the snap if any of the following caused or occurred subsequent to the clock being stopped. 1) a period ends, 2) a charged or TV/radio time-out is granted, 3) a score or touchback occurs, 4) a legal or illegal forward pass is incomplete, 5) the ball goes out of bounds, 6) AN OFFICIAL'S TIME-OUT IS TAKEN TO AWARD TEAM B A NEW SERIES, OR TO AWARD EITHER TEAM A NEW SERIES AFTER A LEGAL KICK, 7) a team attempts to consume time illegally, 8) a penalty for a delay of game foul is accepted.

IN ALL OTHER CASES, THE CLOCK STARTS WITH THE READY-FOR-PLAY SIGNAL.

Here is an example: On fourth down, Team K punts and is flagged for holding as the kick is made. The ball is caught by R2 who is tackled inbounds. RULING: If the penalty is accepted, the clock will start on the ready since it was stopped for the penalty and there is no major clock stopper. If the penalty is declined, the clock will start on the snap, since a new series is awarded to Team B.

Two points to remember: (1) a change of possession does not dictate when the clock starts (it's which team is awarded a new series after the change of possession that matters) and (2) Teams A and B retain their designation throughout the down.

The game clock starts on the snap whenever either team is awarded a new series after a legal kick down (3-4-3c); however, a new series is not awarded to either team until all acts which occurred during the down, including penalties for other than non-player or unsportsmanlike fouls, are considered. (5-1-2b)