Scrimmage kick player # exception

[BayouUmp]

On fourth down in apparent punt formation, team A lines up with tackle A88 in a three point stance. End A89 is adjacent. Team A has 5 players numbered 50-79 on the line. Shortly prior to the snap A89 shifts making A88 an end. Team A completes an untouched pass to A88 beyond the neutral zone for a first down.


Legal play and first down for A?

Is this a casebook example of 7-2-5-b exception, or since A already had 5 players numbered 50-79 on the line, was 88 not part of this exception?

Thx

[cougar729]

Casebook 7-5-2 B deals with this play and rules that the pass to A88 is complete saying that the fact that A lined up with a player wearing an eligible receivers number in the interior line does not eliminate the possibility of this player being eligible to receive a pass following a shift.

[keystoneref]

The situation that you have described is not dealing with the numbering exception. A is just in scrimmage kick formation, because A has 5 players numbered 50-79 on the los. So the fact that A then shifts and uncovers the tackle who has an eligible number is fine. However if A is in scrimmage kick formation and IS using the numbering exception (LESS than 5 players 50-79 on the los, a member of team A 7 or more yards behind the los and in position to receive a snap and no member of team A in position to receive a hand to hand snap) then this play would be a problem. Once a member of team A who is in the game using the numbering exception and is in an ineligible position, even if A shifts, that player remains ineligible. The only situation that I know of that this particular player would become eligible is if B touches a forward pass and all A players were then eligible.