Is it a safety if B declines penalty?

[HawkeyeCubP]

Originally Posted by Indy_Stu

Another situation: QB A12 is scrambling in his own end zone. While trying to elude B players he facemasks B player while in the endzone to ward off defender. He escapes, throws a pass that is intercepted by B, and run back to the A5 yard line. Does B have any choices? Seems like a similar situation: live ball foul by A in its own end zone. Is this automatically a safety for B? Or do they have choices.

B can either:

1. Accept the facemask penalty resulting in a safety.

2. Decline the penalty and take possession at A5.

[whitehat52]

Indy Stu

Your questions all hinge on the definitions of what is a loose ball play and what is a running play. An illegal forward pass is a running play by RULE. If B accepts the penalty in the end zone it will be enforced from the spot of the foul hence a safety. However if they decline the foul for intentional grounding, the end of the run is still in the end zone, therefore the play also results in a safety.

The NFHS would have to change the definition of a loose ball play, for your situation not to be a safety.