Offensive safety

[Oklahoma official]

On page 89 of the NFHS football rule book, under Resolving Tied Games, it talks about: "If a safety is scored by the offensive team, the succeeding spot will the 10 yard line, etc." How can an offensive team score a safety???

[Texas Aggie]

This is why Team A/B is the proper terminology.

Team A could score a safety in one of a number of ways: change of possession where the ball becomes dead behind Team B's goal line, and Team B is charged with the impetus for it being there. Example -- interception caught by Team B at the Team B's 10 yard line, and the runner decides for whatever reason to run back toward his end zone. He's either tackled in the EZ or fumbles the ball back behind the line and out of bounds. Remember, though, that inside the 5 (I think in both codes) the exception is for momentum.

This would be extremely rare, but it has happened.

This DID happen in a game involving SMU back in the SWC days: kickoff to start the game, SMU kicks it right toward an upback for the receiving team; ball hits him square, then rebounds back toward the goal line of the kicking team. There's a mad chase for the ball and it ends up dead behind the goal line, but not in the receiving team's possession. Result: safety. Explain that one!

[Altor]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

This is why Team A/B is the proper terminology.

Team A could score a safety in one of a number of ways: change of possession where the ball becomes dead behind Team B's goal line, and Team B is charged with the impetus for it being there. Example -- interception caught by Team B at the Team B's 10 yard line, and the runner decides for whatever reason to run back toward his end zone. He's either tackled in the EZ or fumbles the ball back behind the line and out of bounds. Remember, though, that inside the 5 (I think in both codes) the exception is for momentum.

This would be extremely rare, but it has happened.
!

Except, in NFHS OT rules, the ball is dead once Team B has possession.

A better example would be a fumble on the 1, and B34 bats the ball across his goal line where B41 falls on it.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by Oklahoma official

On page 89 of the NFHS football rule book, under Resolving Tied Games, it talks about: "If a safety is scored by the offensive team, the succeeding spot will the 10 yard line, etc." How can an offensive team score a safety???

Yes, they can. As Altor wrote, a fumble on the 1, and B34 bats the ball across his goal line where B41 falls on it/ Safety, 2 points for Team A.

If Team B has not yet had their series, then it's 1st and goal from the 10 for Team B.

[whitehat]

So in BKTballREf post: "Yes, they can. As Altor wrote, a fumble on the 1, and B34 bats the ball across his goal line where B41 falls on it/ Safety, 2 points for Team A.

If Team B has not yet had their series, then it's 1st and goal from the 10 for Team B."

Help me think this through.......to continue this example: Assuming this is the 1st "inning" in OT, after the safety we are saying the score is now A-2/ B-0 and now B gets their series? So, B scores a FG and they win 3 to 2? Why doesn't A get a chance to score more than 2 points...what am I missing here?

What would makes sense is that after the safety, A gets the ball again (just as if in regulation B would have to Kick Off to A from their own 20) to "re-start" their series at the 10 yard line but now leading 2-0.

[HLin NC]

Why doesn't A get a chance to score more than 2 points...what am I missing here?

A had their opportunity when they fumbled the ball. The 2 pts given to them by B for not gaining possession in the field of play is a bonus.

Its now their job to stop B from scoring any amount of points. A bit more pressure for sure but they had their chance to put up to 8 on the board and failed.

[APG]

A shouldn't have fumbled the ball.

[whitehat]

Just got to my rule book. You guys are right on...the next phrase of the rule says "If a safety is scored by the offense....succeeding spot will be the 10 yard line in possesion of the team that was on defense provided the defesnive team has not had its series of downs." (page 89 5-1-3)

[ump33]

Originally Posted by whitehat

Are we sure about this...as in official interpretation? I am ok with B winning 3-2 in this scenario if that is the official interpretation from NFHS. Anyone know? I still think it a little unfair despite A fumbling, becasue B messed up as well by getting a safety scord against them.

Something else that gives me reason to doubt that B wins 3-2 in our scenario: In the OP the rules states that the succeeeding spot is the 10 yard line (for whom?). Clue perhaps: In the same situation in regulation (after a safety) the succeeding spot is B kicking to A from the 20 yard line, implying A will will have first chance at possession after the safety..just food for thought.

The OP was an abbreviated version of 5-1-3 on page 89 of the NFHS rule book. The following is the entire interpretation and it specifically states after the safety, it will be B’s ball 1st & G of the 10.

5-1-3: If a safety is scored by the offensive team, the succeeding spot will be the 10-yard line in possession of the team that was on defense, provided the defensive team has not had its series of downs (the temporary overtime score is: Team A-2; Team B-0).

Sorry whitehat ... your post reply was not up when I started typing.

[whitehat]

No problem Ump33...I edited it after I got to my rule book. Didn't want to cloud the issue with my thinking through it in print after I found the rest of the sentance on the rule...always good to work through situaitons in my mind, paint myself into a corner, and then find my way out.