Blocked Kicked

[Sooner75]

K1's punt is blocked on K's 5 yard line and the ball is slowly rolling near the goal line. R1 attempts to recover and just barely touches the ball. The ball then rolls into the end zone where K2 falls on it.

Rule Reference.

[MJT]

Depends if you feel it was a new force or not, 2-13-1, 2-13-2. If in doubt, IMO if K did not want to have a safety then they should not have let R block the kick. I'd have no new force and therefor a safety.

[RoyGardner]

For NCAA rules see 6-3-1 and AR 6-3-1 IV. Status of the ball is still kick (no new impetus), and the live ball is recovered by K in K's EZ.

Result of the play is a safety, 2 points for R.

[The Roamin' Umpire]

I agree with MJT. Also, compare/contrast with NF casebook 8.5.3C - in that play, the ruling specifically says that force by R can make this a touchback instead of a safety. But on this play, I need to be pretty sure that R caused the ball to go into the end zone or I have a safety.

[Jim D]

I agree with MJT's comments. R made a great play by blocking the kick. Unless you are possitive R forced the ball into the end zone, it should be ruled a safety. Don't let K off the hook just because R jostled the ball.

[grantsrc]

2 pts for R. Safety- ball is still a kick therefore A is responsible for ball in own endzone.

[Jim D]

But after a kick has been grounded, a new force may result from a bat, an illegal kick or a muff (2-13-1) if we're talking about K's endzone. It's always a kick and force is not a factor if it goes in R's endzone.

[MJT]

Originally Posted by grantsrc

2 pts for R. Safety- ball is still a kick therefore A is responsible for ball in own endzone.

But Grant, don't you agree that R could give the ball a new force? Now, like I said, if in doubt, we have a safety.

[grantsrc]

Originally Posted by MJT

But Grant, don't you agree that R could give the ball a new force? Now, like I said, if in doubt, we have a safety.

True, but in the example giving, it says "slowly rolling" so in my interpretation it is still a kick. If the original example says, "momentarily comes to rest, then touched by R" then you would have a new force and a touchback for K. That would be fun to explain to the coach!