The LJ on my crew was working with another crew, and came back with this scenario. It is 4th and 13 yards-to-go with the ball on K's 40, clock is runing as previous play had been a running play. K elects to punt. The punt is fielded by R36 at R's 27 and returned out-of-bounds to R's 38. However, R69 is flagged for roughing the punter. Upon administration of the roughing penalty from the previous spot, it is 1st and 10 for K on R's 45. However, there is a dicrepency as to when the clock should wind. The Referee argued that it should start with the snap, as there had been a change of possession, in that the punt had gotten off, and was returned. The Linesman agreed that it should start on the snap, but his reasoning was because the action that caused the down to end (i.e. R running out-of-bounds), also caused the clock to stop (Rule 3-4-3a). The umpire and line judge argued it should start with the ready per Rule 3-4-2a in that the clock should start with the ready . . . when either team is awarded a new series following a legal kick. They argued due to the penalty there was no change of possession, and since it was a legal kick, combined with a penalty, which resulted in a new series of downs for K, clock starts on the ready, especially since the previous play was a running play. BJ stood mute.
What is your call on when to start the clock, and why?
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