Part I test

[SeanWest]

Just to throw in a long winded response...

I don't know how much weight you all give to the "Official's Study Guide to NFHS Football Rules 2004 Edition" but they address this specific question and give a couple of examples...

"It is also legal for any player on either team to throw a backward pass any time anywhere on the field (7-2-1). If a player deliberately throws a backward pass out of bounds to conserve time, it is legal and the clock will start on the snap."

Except that I think they meant to cite 7-4-1. Also, 7-5-2 is where intentional grounding and illegally conserving time are defined and notice that they specifically defined as illegal FORWARD passes. There's nothing defined as an illegal BACKWARD pass so A1 didn't do anything illegal to conserve time. Therefore, it's a legal way to stop the clock.

Sorry about that rambling but it's the one rule I know so I had throw it out there!

-Sean---