Quiz 002 — Clock, Substitutes and the Untimed Down

Source: 2025 NFHS Football Rules Book + Case Book (Rule 3)
Level: Expert
Questions: 10
Scope: 11-player football, no state adoptions in effect unless stated.

Questions

1. Two points, no down

Score is B-7, A-6. Second and goal from B's 9, four seconds left in the game, clock stopped for an incomplete pass. A1's pass into the end zone is intercepted by B1, who returns it to his own 30 and is downed. During B1's run, B2 clips in B's end zone. Time expires during the run. What are A's options and the result of each?

2. Clean hands, no extension

On a down in which time expires for the period, A's pass is intercepted by B1, who advances to his own 3 and there (a) throws an incomplete forward pass; (b) throws a pass to B2 in the end zone for an apparent touchdown; or (c) hands the ball forward to B2, who runs for an apparent touchdown. A accepts in every case. Is the period extended, and what is the result?

3. The taunt that cannot be flagged

A1 breaks free at B's 20 on a run that will score the go-ahead touchdown. Just before crossing the goal line, A1 turns and taunts B1. Time in the fourth period expires during the run. Ruling — and does anything change if the state uses points scored for playoff qualification?

4. Interference buys a down

Fourth and 15, K punts from its own 20. R1 signals for a fair catch at R's 30. K2 commits kick-catching interference at R's 35 and time for the second period expires during the down. R2 recovers the kick at R's 28. What are R's options, and which of them extend the period?

5. A minute that vanished

During the second down of a series, the game clock runs directly from 1:45 to :45 and nobody notices. Following third down, time expires for the period. The error is discovered (a) before, or (b) after the referee has indicated the period officially ended. Is the error correctable in each case — and does it matter whether this is the first or the second period?

6. Helmet off, who sits?

During a down, the helmet of A1 or B1 comes completely off (a) after an opponent grasps the face mask, chin strap or attached tooth and mouth protector; (b) after a legal block by that player on an opponent; (c) after a legal block by an opponent; or (d) after the player simply falls to the ground with no contact at all. Who must be replaced for a down, and does a charged time-out taken immediately afterward excuse him?

7. The long way to the bench

First and 10 on B's 12. Substitute B12 comes on to replace B2 and communicates with him. Before the ball becomes live: (a) B2 leaves through the end zone and across B's sideline — never crossing the end line — and heads for the team box; (b) B12, seeing he cannot replace B2 in time, returns to the team box; (c) B2, unable to reach the sideline, leaves through the end zone and stays there to watch the play; or (d) B12 becomes confused, withdraws across the end line, and goes around the field to his team box. Legal or foul in each?

8. He changed his mind

Fourth and 5 from B's 40. B12 enters and takes a position as the deep punt returner, and the player he replaced leaves the field. B12 then realizes A is not going to punt and jogs back to his team box before the snap. Ruling, and what would have permitted him to leave legally?

9. Both sides hurt (2025)

The ball is dead for the previous down when the game officials call time-out for apparent injuries to at least one player on Team A and at least one player on Team B. At what time does the play clock resume, and why is the usual exception irrelevant here?

10. Nobody came out

Both teams are informed of a 15-minute halftime intermission. Team A returns before it ends. Team B is not on the field when the intermission expires, the timer properly starts the three-minute warm-up, and Team B does not arrive until the warm-up has expired. How many fouls, and what is the penalty?

Answer Key

1. A may decline — period over — or accept, which is a safety, two points for A, but the period is still not extended. B2's foul occurred in B's own end zone after the change of possession, so acceptance produces a safety; nothing in Rule 3-3-4 extends a period for that enforcement. Had this been the end of the first or third period, the teams change ends and B free kicks from its 20. Case 3.3.3 SIT A; Rule 3-3-4b(5)

2. No extension in any of (a), (b) or (c) — and in (b) and (c) the score is wiped out. In (a) and (b) B has thrown an illegal forward pass; in (c) it is illegal handing forward. The period is extended only when the accepted penalty carries a loss-of-down aspect that actually applies, and the loss-of-down provision does not apply to a foul by Team B. At the end of the first or third period B starts the next period first and 10 after enforcement; at the end of a half, the half is over. Case 3.3.4 SIT C; Rule 5-2-2

3. Touchdown counts and the unsportsmanlike foul cannot be penalized. At some point penalty enforcement simply ends, and with the fourth period over and no try required, there is no succeeding spot. If the try is required for playoff qualification, the penalty is enforced on the try. Case 3.3.3 SIT E; Rule 10-4-5a

4. If R declines, the period is over. If R accepts the awarded fair catch — or has the penalty otherwise enforced — the period is extended by an untimed down. Any enforcement of the kick-catching interference penalty, including the awarded catch, keeps the period alive; only declination ends it. Case 3.3.3 SIT G; Rule 6-5-6 PENALTY

5. (a) Correctable. (b) Not correctable — and it makes no difference whether it is the first or the second period. In (a) the error was found prior to the second live ball and before the period had officially ended. Once the referee has declared the period over, the timing error is beyond repair. Case 3.4.8 SITUATION; Rule 3-3-5

6. In (a) the player does not have to be replaced. In (b), (c) and (d) he must be replaced for one down unless the halftime intermission or an overtime intermission occurs. An official's or charged team time-out does not exempt him. When in doubt — particularly when no foul is called — replace the player. Case 3.5.10 SIT E; Rules 3-5-10d, 4-2-2k

7. (a) is legal; (b), (c) and (d) are each a nonplayer foul for illegal substitution. A player, replaced player or substitute must go directly to his team box, and a substitute may not enter and withdraw during the same dead-ball interval. Leaving through the end zone is not itself the problem in (a) — B2 crossed the sideline and kept going toward the box. Case 3.7.3 SIT B; Rules 3-7-2, 3-7-3

8. Illegal substitution. B12 became a player the moment he took his position in the formation, and a player must remain in the game for at least one down. He could have left without penalty only if a penalty were accepted, a dead-ball foul occurred, a charged time-out were taken, or the period ended. Case 3.7.3 SIT C; Rules 2-32, 3-7-3

9. The play clock is reset to 25 and starts on the ready-for-play signal, with the game clock starting per Rule 3-4. The exception that would keep the play clock off 25 exists to deny Team B a manufactured advantage when only a B player is injured; with a player from each team going out, no advantage is gained and no exception is needed. Both injured players must leave for at least one play. Case 3.6.1 SIT F (2025 change); Rules 3-4-2, 3-4-3, 3-5-10

10. One unsportsmanlike conduct foul on Team B's head coach — 15 yards to start the second half. Team B violated the rule twice (not on the field at the end of the intermission, and not on the field at the end of the warm-up), but only one unsportsmanlike foul is penalized. Case 3.1.1 SIT D; Rules 3-1-7, 9-8-1g