Free-kick for a field goal after a fair catch

[CaUmpJW]

This happened in our area four years ago. With a school ahead by the score 14 to 13 and 40 seconds left in the game, they punted in which the other team fair caught the ball on the opponents 42 yard line. On the very first play,they ran the ball down to the 18 yard line at which the opposing team was called for a face mask foul during the tackle, The team accepted the penalty which was half the distance to the goal, the nine yard line. They elected to free kick since it is still first down after the fair catch. The kick was good and they won 16 to 13. The coach knew the rule. A sidepoint- the receiving team must be ten yards away except they can never line up in the end zone. They lined up on the goal line.