fumbled FG return out of endzone

[jwinslow]

if a defender fields a field goal kicked short, but fumbles it out of the endzone, is it still the defense's ball? Or does the offense retain possession?

This happened in our BP 360 league for NCAA 09, and need a ruling before determining who gets the ball (or if I should punt if it was a glitch).

[generaladm]

Originally Posted by jwinslow

if a defender fields a field goal kicked short, but fumbles it out of the endzone, is it still the defense's ball? Or does the offense retain possession?

This happened in our BP 360 league for NCAA 09, and need a ruling before determining who gets the ball (or if I should punt if it was a glitch).

Did he fumble it out of the endzone, back into the field of play, or out the back of the EZ? If the defensive player brought the ball back into the field of play, it should be a live ball. If it was fumbled out of bounds inside the endzone boundaries, touchback.

[jwinslow]

He muffed the return attempt...

out the back of the EZ?

this.

If it was fumbled out of bounds inside the endzone boundaries, touchback.

so this is our ruling?

[LitlBuck]

Originally Posted by jwinslow

He muffed the return attempt...this.so this is our ruling?

I probably am completely wrong about this but I didn't think you could "advance" a blocked FG in the college game so I thought once the ball was touched it would be a dead ball and the defense would retain possession where they touched it. If it were in the end zone, it would be a touchback and brought out to the 20 but again I could be completely off base on this.

[BuckeyeMac]

This is rubbish...freaking stupid game.

FG was short, hits my guy in the freaking back...play is blown dead

[jwinslow]

Yeah, I'm just waiting on ruling if it's your ball at the 20 or 37. I didn't think general would be typing up a thesis

btw, was there a crazy headwind or something I missed? That kicker routinely boots 50 yders, and booms kickoffs 70 yds, and I got the whole bar or close to it.

[generaladm]

Still not sure of all the details. Team A attempts FG. Kick does not go thru uprights, and is short of the endline. Team B has man back to field kick, but fumbles out of the back or sides of the endzone (ball never returning to field of play). Did player B establish control of the ball, or juggle, or just have ball deflect off him? If player B had control, it was a live ball, and result should be touchback. If not in control, Team B takes over at yardline of kick attempt. Neither way should Team A retain possession.

Keep in mind, I'm not involved with any of the leagues, if this is in fact part of one of those. Just giving my opinion.

[Brutus1]

A missed fg which does not cross the goal line is treated the same as a punt. Since R never possessed the punt, it's considered a muff, not a fumble. First down and 10 from the 20 yard line(touchback) , R (defense)'s ball.

[02Buckeyes06]

If the defender caught the ball in the endzone had possesion of the ball and then fumbled it out of the endzone then they would get the ball at the 20 yard line. Its considered like a punt, but if he crosses the goal line and then comes back and fumbles it out of the endzone its a saftey for the kicking team.