[cougar729]

Weird play, weird penalty

NF: Team A 1st and 10 at their own 35 yardline. A1 takes the snap and hands off to A2 who is running towards his own sideline. A3 approaches A2 on a reverse type play, instead of A2 handing off to A3, he keeps it and continues to run in his original direction. A3, now pretending to have the ball is running towards B's sideline, but does so while yelling "Reverse, Reverse" As he does this several B players let up on their pursuit of A2 and begin running down A3. Play ends up as an 11 yard gain, ball at the 46.

Ruling: Referee has an unsportsmanlike penalty on A3 for Verbal deception. We enforce as Dead ball foul from suceeding spot, end of run, back up 15 and have 1st and 10 from the 31.

Question:
TO what part of the rule-book can I reference? my 1st thought was 9-5-1d, which states: No player shall act in an unsportsmanlike manner...by using disconcerting acts or words prior to the snap in an attempt to interfere with A's signals or movements. (Obviously this does not say anything about A doing this after the snap)
My only other reference would be 9-9-1: A player or nonplayer or person not subject to the rules shall not hinder play by an act which has no specific rule coverage.

What do you all think about this?