You're correct on this one offside. It is a live ball foul and not blown dead when the lineman catches the ball.

I can't recall any situation where play is stopped because the ball touches a player.

Sounds like it should have been ruled a fumble. Decline the penalty and take the ball.

 

However, the flags were waived off and it was called incomplete.

 

MC turned the ball over three times inside JC's 10. So, no one feels like this play cost MC the game, but it is an odd play to discuss.

Under National Federation rules no live ball foul causes the ball to become dead.

Under National Federation rules no live ball foul causes the ball to become dead.

:thumb:

This is nothing more than illegal touching. Five yard penalty and loss of down. This is not a fumble or intentional grounding.

I knew this play would bring about some interesting discussion!!!

I'm not saying it's a live ball, dead ball, fumble, safety or anything! I just wanted to see what SHOULD have been called! Sounds to me like the stripes missed it. That happens though. They are human beings and can't get every call exactly right, especially when it's something as goofy as this.

Thanks for all the input and thanks to delirious and proud eagle for letting us know he wasn't in the endzone.

I would have to said incomplete pass if the intended receiver was in the area. If the QB throws a forward pass that isn't caught by a receiver then this is the call. Linemen get in the way of passes all the time that hit them and the ball falls to the ground. Since the limeman dropped the pass then that makes it an incomplete pass. He's not an eligible receiver but since he wasn't down field and there was a RB eligible receiver there then the QB wasn't just trying to ground the ball. Incomplete screen pass.

I would have to said incomplete pass if the intended receiver was in the area. If the QB throws a forward pass that isn't caught by a receiver then this is the call. Linemen get in the way of passes all the time that hit them and the ball falls to the ground. Since the limeman dropped the pass then that makes it an incomplete pass. He's not an eligible receiver but since he wasn't down field and there was a RB eligible receiver there then the QB wasn't just trying to ground the ball. Incomplete screen pass.

 

I'm guessing that is what the refs settled on.

 

It sounds plausible, but is it the right call?

I would have to said incomplete pass if the intended receiver was in the area. If the QB throws a forward pass that isn't caught by a receiver then this is the call. Linemen get in the way of passes all the time that hit them and the ball falls to the ground. Since the limeman dropped the pass then that makes it an incomplete pass. He's not an eligible receiver but since he wasn't down field and there was a RB eligible receiver there then the QB wasn't just trying to ground the ball. Incomplete screen pass.

 

There's a big difference between the lineman "dropping" and "catching, then dropping" the ball.

 

Sounds like the officials should have flagged the "illegal touch", yes, but should have let the fumble (and resultant recovery) stand.

 

:sssh:

There's a big difference between the lineman "dropping" and "catching, then dropping" the ball.

 

Sounds like the officials should have flagged the "illegal touch", yes, but should have let the fumble (and resultant recovery) stand.

 

:sssh:

 

You can't have a fumble by an ineligible receiver. Only eligible receivers with the ball can that happen too. You could maybe have illegal touching if the player was trying to catch the ball. I've seen linemen catch and drop balls before and its never ruled a fumble. As long as he's not down field and as long as he didn't try to advance the ball this has to be the rule. Only reason I know about the fumble issue is my kid played TE in high school and on some plays he wasn't eligible to catch a pass but sometimes the QB would get into trouble and would throw him the ball. He never did catch it and then throw down but he did have it hit into his hands a few times before he realized that he wasn't eligible for a pass.

Its my understanding that in this particular case, it would only be a safety if it was ruled "intentional grounding" and it would only be an "illegal touch" if the ineligible receiver intentionally touched/caught the pass. The penalty would be enforced based on where the ineligible receiver was when he touched the ball. If he was behind the LOS, the penalty is enforced from that spot. Otherwise, it would be enforced from the LOS. If he was actually in the EZ, its a safety. I don't think the fact that an eligible receiver was hear the ineligible receiver has any bearing on the play.

Does anyone know where this officating crew was from? At this point in the playoffs you would think that only the best of the best crews would be officating at this level.

Does anyone know where this officating crew was from? At this point in the playoffs you would think that only the best of the best crews would be officating at this level.

They were from the 16th region.

 

I know that 2 of the refs... the white hat and head linesman have refereed state championship games before.

They were from the 16th region.

 

I know that 2 of the refs... the white hat and head linesman have refereed state championship games before.

 

They had a pretty good game I thought. This one play just caught all of them off guard. It happens....

The line jdge on the JC side is a friend of mine. I haven't had the chance to talk to him about the play, but I will see him Wed. I'll give you the report after we talk.

You can't have a fumble by an ineligible receiver. QUOTE]

 

PM me with your address for a rule book. I have plenty from over the years; would be happy to mail one to you.