4th and 9 from K's 5, punter standing in the end zone, gets a high snap and once having secured the ball, is under a heavy rush. While still in the end zone, he throws the ball to the 15 yard line hash, an area occupied by only R players. The pass falls incomplete.

What are R's choices?

NFHS: None. the result is a safety no matter what team-R does.
NCAA: Team-B can take a safety or by declining the penalty, the down will count with the ball placed at the previous spot. Thus Team-B takes over on downs 1/goal from the what was the team-A 5 yard line.

Yes.. this is one of the many, many rule differences.

Correct-o-mundo Theisey. This pass was thrown to and area not occupied by an eligible offensive receiver. It might also have just been thrown to save yardage. One way or the other it’s an illegal forward pass.
NF 8-5-2c “it is a safety when: A player on offence comments any foul for which the penalty is accepted and enforcement is from a spot in his EZ; or throws an illegal forward pass from his EZ and the penalty is declined in a situation which leaves him in possession at the spot of the illegal pass and with the ball having been forced into the end zone by the passing team “
Safety either way.

Agree with all above.

How long do you think R might need to consider this one? And remember, DEFER is not an option!!:)

Does NF rules really not give a team the option of refusing a penalty? This seems very strange.

TheY can decline it but the results of the play is still a safety. The ball is spotted at the point where the illegal forward pass was thrown (as AB states below) :)





[Edited by mikesears on Jan 13th, 2003 at 03:03 PM]

The reason being is that an illegal pass is not classified as a loose ball play, therefore it is a running play that ends in the end zone (the spot of such pass) - always a safety.

... and that's why I like the NCAA version better.