Momentum on a free kick
 

K has been kicking high with the ball coming down around the R 30 yard line all night. R4 is camped at the 30 when on a kickoff, K kicks it over R4's head. R4 runs back to get it and picks it up on a bounce at his own 2 yard line. Momentum carries him into the end zone where the white hat immediately blows his whistle and signals touchback.

Is this the correct call? If not, then what? I'll give what was eventually ruled later.

If the WH was certain it was possessed in the field of play, should be a beanbag at the spot, 1st & 10 R at the 2.

If in doubt or if not in possession then touchback would be the proper call.

Assuming there was possession before the EZ, sounds like there was an IW. R can take the ball at the R-2, or choose a rekick (most likely).

I agree, sounds like an IW.

Just to expand on that a bit: 4-2-3c dictates that R has the option "to accept the results of the play at the dead-ball spot or replay the down." The result of the play would ordinarily be a safety (R carried the ball into their own EZ, where it became dead), but the momentum exception applies here, making the result of the play R's ball at the R2.

The other option — replaying the down — would be a rekick in this instance. The K coach won't be happy about it, and a beanbag helps to sell this call. :)

I also agree with HLinNC: if the covering official has any doubt about possession, then it was still a kick when it crossed the plane of the GL, resulting in a TB. In that case, he got it right.

Here is what happened.

<iframe width="640" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KPHkKka1Rp0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

My observations:

1. The R is out of position, having to run back to the GL to rule on TB. He should start straddling the GL.

2. I can't see where the receiver gained possession.

3. He gives an NFL TB signal (NFHS and NCAA use a "fair catch" signal for TB).

4. No clue why we're starting at the 2 YL if the ruling was a TB, but the R seems to be lined up directly behind the QB.

2. The receiver gained possession at the 2 and ran into the end zone with the ball.

4. The referee first signaled TB, but then after a gathering of officials it was (I'm guessing) ruled down at the two. 1st and ten there.

I have never seen that situation before in the 16 years I've broadcast high school football, so I was unsure what the correct rule was. It didn't affect the outcome of the game. The six turnovers the white team gave up did that. I was just curious.

Technically not "down at the two." In order for the momentum exception to apply, (among other things) the ball must become dead in the EZ. It did in this case due to the IW; often, the player will take a knee or be tackled.

I guess if I were announcing what happened, I might state that "by rule, the ball will be placed at the spot of recovery."

And, as HLin and CT1 pointed out, since the ball became dead due to the IW, the receiving team should have had the option to replay the down.

After viewing the video, I'm sure there was an IW. The ball wasn't dead by rule, yet the R gave the TB signal.

My guess is that this was the first time this happened with this particular R. Perhaps one of his crew reminded him about the MX, and they decided to "equitably" award it to R at the MX spot.

So are you saying the momentum exception does or doesn't apply?

Because you sound a little wishy-washy. :)

The IW rule applies, which gives R the option:

1. Take the result of the play: momentum exception applies, spot the ball at the R2.

2. Replay the (free kick) down.

I'm sure you understand all that. It's misleading to say "down at the 2" for the first option, which was the point of my post.

I did but I'm not sure the OP or others would. :)

I'm not positive based on this video, and I'm sure that you can't be as well. Touching and possessing are not the same thing and don't always happen at the same time, and it's definitely not as clear cut as you seem to indicate that possession occurred at the 2.

However, the fact that the official was talked into spotting the ball at the 2 leads me to believe that they agreed with you. Only problem is that if they did, then it had to be IW - and a likely rekick.

Yucky all the way around on this one. (I agree with the bad mechanics on R's part).

Correct, I'm not 1.000% sure. The video camera was on the right end of the press box and I was on the left end, and I had my binoculars on #4. I saw him grab the ball out of the air but it happened quickly, so I am not perfectly clear if he had complete control of the ball at the two. It may have been at the one or inside the end zone.

Thank you all for your input and continuing to assist me on my education.