I'm going to add one thing and see if it clarifies anything for you. Let's break your original play down and put it on a time line.
From your post:
Quote:
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QB receives the snap, drops back and due to pressure, scrambles about 15 yards behind the basic spot (LOS) where he was tackle by the face mask (5 yards).
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As you can see, and supported by rule, the loose ball play is over when the snap was caught and the running play began. There was never another loose ball of any kind in this play.
The fact that the play happened behind the LOS is immaterial in this case.