Quote:
Originally posted by drinkeii
Hi - I am a basketball/swimming/soccer official, and am running an intramural program at my school. I ran into a problem with a flag football game, and would like to know what the regular football rules would say about this situation: (our flag rules don't cover this one  )
Ball is on the four yard line, 3rd and goal. The clock had about 4 seconds left on it when the ball was snapped. It ran out during the play, but before the penalty occurred. The score was 32-38, with the lower score team attempting to score. There was an offensive penalty in the endzone (an illegal push, which by our rules, is a 5 yard penalty + down over), but the ball was caught by another player. The other team accepted the penalty. What occurs from here? Do we have one more play 5 yards back, or is the game over because the clock ran out. I assume if they declined, it would have just been the TD, with an extra point attempt, and I could handle it from there according to our rules.
Help!!
Thanks!
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Offensive penalty, that is, another offensive player pushed a defensive player before the receiver caught the ball for a touchdown.
If that is true, the first question to the reporting official is "was the ball in the air" to determine if the foul is offensive pass interference or illegal block in the back (new this comong season). Reason being an offensive pass interference carries a loss of down.
Assuming, the ball was in the air, the defensive captain is given the choice. "Captain, you can accept the penalty that includes loss of down 4th down and 19 and they will have the opportunity to run another play as the game cannot end on an accepted penalty or, if you decline the penalty it is a touchdown and they will have the opportunity to win with an extra point try."
Guess what he takes? Acceptance, and if he has a hard time deciding, put your hand over his mouth as you announce "The penalty has been accepted for offensive pass interference. That penalty includes loss of down. The game cannot end on an accepted penalty; therefore, the game will be extended with an untimed down, 4th and goal from the 19."
If for some reason he really wants to decline the penalty, by rule the scoring team would be able to run an extra point try since it will determine the outcome of the game.
NOTE: I suspect most coaches would want the defense to accept the penalty and make the offense score from 19 yards on a single down then have to make the extra point to win. But in states like New York where the overtime procedure is used, there may be an inclination to decline the penalty if the offense does not have a kicker and force the game into overtime.
You have to love this game of football!
[Edited by Ed Hickland on Jun 5th, 2002 at 05:51 PM]