Something that reads so clearly, that causes a lot of confusion is "a kick remains a kick, until it's no longer a kick" (which means:" a kick remains a kick until someone/anyone POSSESSES it, or it's blown dead. NFHS 2-34-1.
No matter who, or how many different people touch/muff a kick, it remains a kick until it's actually POSSESSED. While a kick is still a kick it is a LOOSE BALL, and any fouls that occur are enforced as such.
The key to your question, aside from who actually grabbed a facemask, is whether that happened DURING the kick, or after it was RECOVERED (which requires POSSESSION, not just touching/muffing), and would then be enforced from the end of the related run (the fumble) rather than the previous spot.
The "Kicking Rules" are an area worthy of extensive review & discussion.
Last edited by ajmc; Mon Sep 12, 2016 at 10:54am.
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