Overtime Play

[Reffing Rev.]

Standard NFHS 10 yard procedure.

Second Series, First Team failed to score.

3rd and goal at the 8. A7 runs to the 3 and fumbles, ball comes to rest at the 2. Players are diving all over the place. B2 dives on the ball and "palms" it to B5 in the end zone. The palming I could best describe as the way a basketball player would rest the ball on top of one hand.

Now is it batting? It really wasn't my definition of "striking" the ball, it was more 'scooping' the ball. If it is batting, B forced the ball into its own end zone and the down ended with B in possession since it becomes dead in overtime whenever B has possession, this case a safety, Team A wins. If it is batting this would be a penalty for illegal batting half the distance from the previous spot and repeat 3rd down at the 4.
If it is not batting then is palming the ball possession at the 2? If so ball is dead there lets go to 2OT.

Any thoughts.

This is probably one of those had to be there situations, but I'd like to see some philosophy or thoughts on how you might rule in this case.

It never ceases to amaze me the odd things that can happen on a football field.