Runner touches ball to ground

[Reffing Rev.]

Thursday night varsity game

QB scrambles and as he breaks a tackle he puts his hand down with the ball and touches the ground, and continues running for another 12 yards.

Coach screams, "He's down, ball touched the ground"

He goes so far as to request a coach-referee conference.

I said, "The ball is dead when a player in posession allows any part of his person to touch the ground other than hand or foot, and the ball is not a part of his person."

He disagreed, I found out today he called the state to complain about that play.

I've scoured my books and can't find his rule, and I couldn't find a case-book play to support our ruling.

Anyone know where he came up with that myth/rule?