Does forceouts apply to the goal line?

Zeke5 · #1 (**permalink**) Mon Jun 25, 2001, 11:37am

1st and goal on B's 5. A82's pass route curls up a yard
into the endzone. The pass is high which A82 is forced to
leap straight up to catch the ball where B52 hits him in
mid air driving him back into the field of play, landing on
the 1/2 yard line where he is downed.

How about the same type of play at the line-to-gain?

My gut feeling is that forceouts should aply to forward
progress, though I don't see it spelled out anywhere. I'd
give A a TD or a 1st down in these cases ... how about you?

Schmidt MJ · #2 (**permalink**) Mon Jun 25, 2001, 12:48pm

Zeke,

I think I've got to agree with you on this one. I dont have my rule book with me but I seem to recall something like "forward progress is the point of contact when the momentum rule is in effect". Basically, as long as the receiver holds onto the ball until he lands, he is given his furtherest point of progress if he is knocked backwards by the defender and downed there. If he is able to maintain his balance and then tries to gain more yards, then he is on his own.

Zeke5 · #3 (**permalink**) Mon Jun 25, 2001, 03:39pm

"... If he is able to maintain his balance and then tries
to gain more yards, then he is on his own. ..."

I'm not sure I agree with you on this one in the case that
the goal line is involved. I think it's a TD no matter if
he keeps his feet or not.

STEVED21 · #4 (**permalink**) Tue Jul 03, 2001, 10:44am

Zeke:
Case book 2.15.1 deals with this play. If the defender contacts the receiver in the end zone, it is a touchdown. Same for in the field of play. The contact stops forward progress.