Safety or No Safety that is the question

[wisref2]

Just tell your buddy that coming out of the endzone is the same as going into the endzone. If any part of the ball is breaking the plane of the goal line (the edge that is on the playing field side of the line), the ball is in the end zone. Simple as that. In your case, if any part of the ball is breaking that plane, it's a safety.

As to the two kick plays - in Federation, it is impossible to receive a kick in the end zone - the ball is dead as soon as it breaks the plane of the goal line. So all he's doing is catching a deadball.

As far as force and kicks, there is NEVER any question. The kick is always the force (by rule). A kick doesn't end until it is possessed or the ball is dead. So on a kick play - ANY TIME the kick goes into the end zone, it is a touchback.

Take your last two plays and make them interceptions - remember that if he wasn't responsible for putting the ball in the end zone, he has no responsibility to get it out of the end zone. So those would both be touchbacks on an interception.