Play: As A1 is running downfield, B1 runs up to him and grasps A1’s facemask. B1 violently jerks A1’s head up and down for several seconds before finally letting go.
Ruling: Because of the violent and persistent nature of B1’s foul, it should be considered flagrant. B1 is disqualified.
Play: Fourth and 10 on team K’s six yardline. K1’s short, high punt is muffed in flight by R3 at team K’s 10 yardline. The ball rolls back toward team K’s end zone and hits a goalline pylon. K2 was flagged for holding in the end zone. Time for the period expires during the down.
Ruling: The result of the play is a safety since the force (NFHS) or impetus (NCAA) is attributed to team K’s kick. If the penalty for holding is accepted, it also results in a safety and the period is extended for an untimed free kick by team K from its 20 yardline (NFHS 3-3-3a, 6-1-1b, 8-5-2c; NCAA 3-2-3a, 6-1-2d, 8-5-1b).
Play: After making the tackle, B1 remains near downed runner A1 and (a) directs an obscene gesture at A1 while screaming obscenities at him, (b) does a prolonged celebratory dance near A1, or (c) ignores an official’s request to walk away from and stop directing taunts at A1.
Ruling: The acts described in (a), (b), and (c) fall under the definition of flagrant. B1 should be penalized 15 yards and disqualified.
Play: Third and 10 on Team A’s 10 yardline. A1 pitches the ball backward to A2, who muffs the ball on Team A’s three yard line. While the ball is rolling toward the sideline, B3 legally blocks A1 into the ball on the two yardline. A1’s contact with the ball causes it to go over the sideline in the end zone.
Ruling: Under NFHS rules, the covering official must judge whether the original force, charged to Team A from the backward pass, would have caused the ball to go into the end zone. If so, the play results in a safety and Team A would have to free kick from its 20 yardline. If the official judges the ball would not have gone into the end zone as a result of the backward pass, then a new force is attributed to B3 and the play results in touchback, Team A’s ball, first and 10 on its 20 yardline. (2-13-1, 8-5-2b, 8-5-3c, interp.)
Play: First and 10 on team A’s 20 yardline. A1 runs to his 38 yardline and attempts a backward pass to A2, which is ruled to be forward. A2 muffs the ball (no whistle) and while it is rolling loose, A3 commits an incidental facemask foul.
Ruling: The ball was dead because of the incomplete forward pass when it touched the ground after A2’s muff and a whistle should have been blown. The penalty for the illegal pass is enforced five yards from the spot of the foul and results in a first down for team A at its 33 yardline. In NFHS, the five yard dead ball facemask foul is then enforced and yields first and 10 for team A at its 28 yardline. Under NCAA rules, all offensive and dead ball facemask fouls carry a 15 yard penalty. It will be first and 10 for team A at its 18 yardline. (NFHS 7-5-2b, 9-4-3h; NCAA 7-3-2a, 9-1-2s)
