Rules of the Game – The Ransom Report – Edition 3

Tagged under: News, Rules of the Game

Kevin Ransom | September 8, 2023

September 8^th 2023

EDITION – 3

Week 3 of the PIAA football season is upon us; blink and we will be talking playoffs.

I hope that you found last weeks edition to be easy to understand and educational.  Although the High School Football Rules Book is not always the easiest thing to understand, I want to keep this column simple and to the point.  I hope to remove the confusion and just talk football.  I have received a little feedback and a couple questions regarding this column.  I welcome all questions.  If a fan has an interest in learning more about the game then I would like to help them as I am able.

During this week’s edition we are going to take a close look at the passing game; specifically Defensive Pass Interference.  I have learned that this is one of the most misunderstood rules in high school football due to the glaring differences between High School application and College/Professional Application.

PLAY #1

It is 2^nd and 8.  The ball is on the Offense’s 21-yard line.  The Quarterback throws a forward pass to his Wide Receiver who is at the Offense’s 40-yard line.  A Defensive Back, who is covering, clearly contacts the receiver before the ball is touched.  The Wide Receiver and Defensive Back fall to the ground the thrown ball lands incomplete next to them.

PLAY #2

It is 3^rd and 22.  The ball is on the Offense’s 14-yard line.  The Quarterback throws a forward pass to his Wide Receiver who is at the Offense’s 40-yard line.  A Defensive Back, who is covering, clearly contacts the receiver before the ball is touched.  The Wide Receiver and Defensive Back fall to the ground the thrown ball lands incomplete next to them.

PLAY #3

It is 3^rd and 8.  The ball is on the Defense’s 12-yard line.  The Quarterback throws a forward pass to his Wide Receiver who is in the endzone.  A Defensive Back, who is covering, clearly contacts the receiver before the ball is touched.  The Wide Receiver and Defensive Back fall to the ground the thrown ball lands incomplete next to them.

YOU MAKE THE CALL!!!

Interested in becoming a PIAA Football official?  Contact the PIAA or any local official.  They can help you get started.  Have a question about this column?  I can be reached at kevinransom95@hotmail.com

ANSWERS:

Play #1:  There is a foul for Defensive Pass Interference.  The foul will obviously be accepted.  The next play will be from the Offense’s 36-yard line.  The foul is enforced from the previous spot with this Defensive Pass Interference penalty.  It will be 1^st and 10 because the Line to Gain was reached.  This is NOT an automatic First Down. 

 Play #2:  There is a foul for Defensive Pass Interference.  The foul will obviously be accepted.  The next play will be from the Offense’s 29-yard line.  The foul is enforced from the previous spot with this Defensive Pass Interference penalty.  It will be 3^rd and 7 because the Line to Gain was not reached.  The down will be replayed.  This is NOT an automatic First Down. 

 Play #3:  There is a foul for Defensive Pass Interference.  The foul will obviously be accepted.  The next play will be from the Defense’s 6-yard line.  The foul is enforced from the previous spot with this Defensive Pass Interference penalty.  It will be enforced half the distance to the goal.  It will be 3^rd and 2 because the Line to Gain was not reached.  The down will be replayed.  This is NOT an automatic First Down. 

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