Continuation of Scoring Play

[Rickwill]

hey, I know its sometimes difficult to answer the "why" question, but I'm going tojump in anyways..... If a ball carrier is flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct on the field of play during a run. and then after the flag is thrown, he continues running down the field and then into the end zone. why do the rules allow the touchdown, even though the ball carrier committed the infraction during the play and before the touchdown? And is this the only penalty in the books where an offensive player can commit a penalty before the touchdown is scored, yet the touchdown counts anyway? thanks.

[APG]

That isn't true under NCAA rules (and by extension, HS games in Texas/Massachusetts).

In other rule sets, unsportsmanlike fouls are live ball fouls enforced as dead ball fouls. Why do they go that route especially with NFHS rules? I couldn't answer.

[Rickwill]

thanks. so, for example, if the ball carrier begins taunting on the 10 yard line on his way into the end zone, then the play should be blown dead on the 10 yard line, and the 15 yard penalty enforced from the 10? Thanks.

[CT1]

Originally Posted by Rickwill

thanks. so, for example, if the ball carrier begins taunting on the 10 yard line on his way into the end zone, then the play should be blown dead on the 10 yard line, and the 15 yard penalty enforced from the 10? Thanks.

(FED) Completely wrong. The ball remains live, and the penalty will be assessed on either the XP try or ensuing kickoff, at the option of the defense.

[jTheUmp]

Are you talking about FED rules, or NCAA rules?

In either case, we do not "blow the play dead" at the 10 yard line as you suggest. A foul NEVER causes the ball to become dead. The result of the play is a touchdown, with an Unsportsmanlike Conduct foul at the B 10.

Here's where things change depending on ruleset.

NFHS:
Touchdown stands, Team B can take the 15-yard penalty on the try or on the subsequent kickoff (see the rule I posted previously).

NCAA:
Live-ball UNS at the 10-yard line. If Team B accepts the penalty (and they will), basic spot is the 10-yard line. Next snap will be at the B 25, 1st and 10 if the 25 is beyond the line-to-gain of the previous play, otherwise replay the previous down.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by jTheUmp

A foul NEVER causes the ball to become dead.

Quick nitpick. There are 2 fouls in NCAA football that do -- an illegal kick (from beyond the line of scrimmage) and a return kick.

[Rickwill]

thanks, you answered my confusion, that it depends on which Rule Set in this case.

[APG]

Originally Posted by Rickwill

thanks, you answered my confusion, that it depends on which Rule Set in this case.

And for completeness sake, in the NFL, an unsportsmanlike penalty like in the situation you presented, the penalty would be enforced on the kickoff.

[PSU213]

Originally Posted by APG

And for completeness sake, in the NFL, an unsportsmanlike penalty like in the situation you presented, the penalty would be enforced on the kickoff.

That would imply they actually frown upon taunting in the NFL, which is not the case, so this is a moot point

[jTheUmp]

Why? Because that's the rule. Specifically, NFHS 10-4-5-a:

Originally Posted by NFHS 10-4-5

ART. 5 . . . The basic spot is the succeeding spot:

a. For an unsportsmanlike foul.

b. For a dead-ball foul.

c. For a nonplayer foul.

d. When the final result is a touchback.

NOTE: The succeeding spot may, at the option of the offended team, be the subsequent kickoff as in 8-2-2, 8-2-3, 8-2-4 and 8-2-5.

The succeeding spot in this case can be either the try or on the subsequent kickoff (if there is going to be a subsequent kickoff).


NCAA used to be the same way until a couple of years ago... now in NCAA, UNS fouls are enforced as live-ball fouls.