Interception question

[FreedomAlum]

In NC High School play can a ball intercepted in the end zone be returned? There was a play at Freedom Friday night where the ball was intercepted inside the 5, and in such a case could the returner use the end zone to evade tacklers (I saw a similar play in a college game yesterday where the DB returning an interception crossed back into the end zone from the field of play) which sparked my curiosity. Also what would happen if a defender intercepted a ball on the field of play and then let his momentum carry him back into the end zone and then was either tackled or knelt?

Thanks!

 

[Reynoldsrocks2]

A few years ago our safety intercepted a pass 8 yards deep in end zone and took it for a pick 6. No one even questioned it.

 

[flag_em]

Yes-- you can run out of the EZ with a pass that has been intercepted.

If the player intercepted in the field of play inside the 5 yd line and the momentum carried him in the EZ ..and he was tackled --the ball would come out to the spot he possessed it . If it was caught beyond the 5 yd line and is then carried into the EZ ..it's a safety.

 

[FreedomAlum]

Yes-- you can run out of the EZ with a pass that has been intercepted.

If the player intercepted in the field of play inside the 5 yd line and the momentum carried him in the EZ ..and he was tackled --the ball would come out to the spot he possessed it . If it was caught beyond the 5 yd line and is then carried into the EZ ..it's a safety.

Thanks, I was confused because you can't return kicks from the end zone, but I wasn't sure about other kinds of plays.

 

[tarheelg]

Yes-- you can run out of the EZ with a pass that has been intercepted.

If the player intercepted in the field of play inside the 5 yd line and the momentum carried him in the EZ ..and he was tackled --the ball would come out to the spot he possessed it . If it was caught beyond the 5 yd line and is then carried into the EZ ..it's a safety.

This rule showed up in the South Granville/Roanoke Rapids game in the last minute of the 4th Quarter.....when it seemed like RR had intercepted a pass to seal the game.....but like you said, he possessed it right at the 1 yard line, then his momentum carried him into the end zone, it was either the line judge or back judge dropped the bean bag right at the 1 and that's where RR took over and would fumble the handoff on their next play to open the door for SG to get the win

 

[FBRef]

That's the correct ruling. It's known as the momentum rule, so you're on top of it.

When a kick, fumble or interception is caught inside the 5 yard line and the player's momentum carries him into the end zone where the ball becomes dead, the ball comes back to the spot of the recovery/catch. The covering official(s) drop a bean bag to mark the spot.

Otherwise, the result of the play you describe would have been a safety, not a touchback.