Legal Play or NOt
 

Team A has the ball 1st and 10 on their 40. They huddle up. After the white hat blows in the clock and ready for play, Team A subs in 1 player. As the player comes on the field 2 players leave the huddle for the sideline. Player A leaves the field and Player B stops outside the numbers. The team then breaks the huddle into an offensive formation and snaps the ball. They throw a deep pass to the player who did not leave the field. Is this legal. He meets all the necessary requirements of being inside the numbers before the snap and also never leaves the field of play. It is deception but the defense had the opportunity to see him leave the field and to cover him.

9-6-4d

9.6.4 SITUATION B: Following a kickoff return, A1 and A2 enter the field while
A3, A4 and A5 move toward the sideline. A5 stops within the 9-yard marks while
A3 and A4 continue to the team box. The ball is snapped without a huddle and the
quarterback throws a forward pass to A5, who has gone downfield as a wide
receiver. RULING: This play is illegal because a pretended substitution is used to
deceive the opponents. The penalty of 15 yards for the illegal participation foul
will be administered from the previous spot since the foul occurred at the snap.
(9-6-4c)

Thanks Big John

I wondered if that would apply