OT: Rules Question on Rallis INT

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tjgopher

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Ok, for you football officials out there....on the Rallis interception.

Mike tried to pitch the ball to a teammate and the ball rolled away and was recovered by South Dakota. It was deemed an illegal forward pass and we were penalized five-yards, but kept possession.

My question is this. South Dakota recovered the illegal lateral. Is that not treated as a fumble? I was totally shocked we kept possession. I saw their coach called a timeout and I was convinced we were going to lose possession, knowing how the day had gone up to that point. But, we kept it.

I know it is of no consequence now, but I'm just more curious to know why we got to keep the ball?

Any of you refs out there know the rule?
 

My guess is that since it was an illegal forward pass the play was over once it hit the ground, just like any forward pass that is incomplete.
 

Yep, pretty much. It was a pass, it hit the ground, so incomplete. But, it was illegal, so hence the penalty. Once it hit the turf, it was dead, so USD couldn't recover it.
 

I'm a HS official and the rule is correct even though it seems strange.. Incomplete pass beyond the line of scrimmage 5 yds and loss of down, but since we intercepted there is no down to lose.. would be similar to a QB crossing the line of scrimmage and throwing an incomplete pass.. would be incomplete but penalized 5 yds from the spot and loss of down..
 

masonglen said:
I'm a HS official and the rule is correct even though it seems strange.. Incomplete pass beyond the line of scrimmage 5 yds and loss of down, but since we intercepted there is no down to lose.. would be similar to a QB crossing the line of scrimmage and throwing an incomplete pass.. would be incomplete but penalized 5 yds from the spot and loss of down..
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What if the South Dakota player had recovered the ball in mid-air? Would it have been ruled an interception? Can an illegal forward pass be intercepted?
 


Illegal forward passes can be intercepted. They would of course decline the penalty.
 

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