[Bob M.]

For Federation, the force was actually B45's carrying of the ball into his endzone. It was not his backward pass, since he made the pass from within the endzone. Remember, force is ths initiative which moves the ball from the field of play into an endzone. Also, since the play says that B45 recovers the ball (meaning it was grounded), the momentum exception does not apply. Safety is the correct ruling.

In NCAA ball, the momentum exception does apply to recoveries, which would give the ball to B, 1-10 @ B's 4 if the covering official rules that B45's momentum was responsible for the ball being in the endzone and becoming dead there. [Jim, I think Uncle Ernie gave you an NCAA ruling on this one!]