Penalty question
 

This is not to dispute a ruling, but to ask for the appropriate rule.

A forward pass is thrown toward a wide receiver near a sideline.
Before the pass gets to the receiver it is tipped by a defender and sails high and uncatchable out of bounds.

A second after the tip and deflection a SECOND receiver, a few yards ahead of the receiver, who makes no attempt to go after the ball, is hit, hemet to helmet by a defender.

15 yard penalty against the defense was the ruling.

What rule covers this?

I thought the officials got it right.

Just would like a rule interpretation.

Presumably the hit was ruled a personal foul for the type of contact (head to head), or unnecessary roughness for the circumstance of the contact (hitting someone out of play).

Robert

The common sense rule should apply. Disqualification to this knucklehead.

Definitely unnecessary roughness. This is a point of emphasis for NF, NCAA, and in the NFL. Those are exactly the types of hits they want called at all levels and are always supported by supervisors.

This play description appears to be a description of a Illinois DB against a Ohio State receiver. The Ill. coach disagreed with the call.

JR was right, the player should have been ejected but wasn't...

Yes, that was the play.
I thought the officials made the correct call. In fact the play was so blatant it pratically called itself.

The Sports Editor of the Columbus Dispatch, though, called it the worst call he has seen all year.