When does the clock start? (NF)

[Daryl H. Long]

The ball became dead when the scrimmage kick was recovered by K after being touched by R beyond the neutral zone. At that point the down also ended. No matter what happened on the play the officials were going to stop the clock. Why? to award a new series to either K or R.

So what if a foul occurred? After giving penalty options the only thing to determine is (1)whose possession, (2)what down and (3)whether it is a new series or not,and (4)when to start clock.

R declines K's Penalty:
1. K possession - in possession due to result of play 5-1-3f, 5-2-2
2. 1st - because new series awarded 5-1-3f, 5-2-1, 5-2-5f, 5-2-6
3. new series awarded 5-1-3f(do not confuse this with K reaching the line to gain which is NF 5-1-3a)
4. Snap 3-4-3c

R accepts penalty:
1. K possession 5-2-1
2. 4th - replay the down following enforcement. 5-2-2
3. no new series awarded.
4. Snap - 3-4-2b3. The action which caused the ball to become dead (recovery of scrimmage kick beyond neutal zone). This action also causes the clock to be stopped and the down to end.

***The action causing the clock to be stopped dictates when to start the clock. Remember 3-4-2b says start clock on ready but gives (3) exceptions which would start the clock on the snap instead. In our case exception 3 applies because the action which ended the down also DID cause the clock to stop therefore clock starts on the snap.