FORWARD VERSUS BACKWARD PASS
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)
