Facemask
 

Running Back A2 behind LOS, defensive facemask, then a fumble, Team B recovers. Penalty enforced from the LOS or where it took place in backfield? No fumble recovery for team B if A accepts the penalty, any opinions or citing of rule that pertains? Thanks

The first question you always ask is did the foul occur during a loose ball play or running play. This is a loose ball play (10-3-1c) because it happened before the fumble by A behind the NZ. The basic spot for a foul during a loose ball play is the previous spot (10-4-2b). Since this is a foul by the defense it is enforced from the basic spot (10-6).

running play.

This is a loose ball play because it's a fumble behind the NZ. Any fouls that occur from the snap to the recovery of the fumble is part of a loose ball play. See the note in rule 10-3-1.

At first I thought running play as well, but the case book is definitive:

10.3.1 SITUATION C:

With first and 10 from A's 5-yard line, A1 drops back into his end zone, where he is tackled by the face mask/helmet opening and fumbles. The ball rolls out of bounds at A's 3-yard line.

RULING: The fumble by A is a loose-ball play behind the neutral zone which would be enforced from the previous spot. Following penalty administration, it will be A's ball, first and 10, at A's 20-yard line.

From 10-3-1:

ART. 1 . . . A loose-ball play is action during:

a. A free kick or scrimmage kick, other than those defined in 2-33-1a.

b. A legal forward pass.

c. A backward pass (including the snap), illegal kick or fumble made by A from in or behind the neutral zone and prior to a change of team possession.

NOTE: The run(s) which precedes such legal or illegal kick, legal forward pass, backward pass or fumble is (are) considered part of the action during a loose-ball play.

Also remember these words when there is change of possession and a foul.

Did the team in possession get it with "clean hands".