Question
In Saturday night’s Saskatchewan at Hamilton game, there was an unusual play near the end of the game, when Hamilton’s Jykine Bradley chased down Saskatchewan’s Weston Dressler and punched the ball out of his arms just before he reached the goal line. The initial call was Touchdown. The Replay overturned that call and gave Saskatchewan the ball at the one yard line. How come?
Answer
Instant replay, initiated by the Replay officials in the booth because the play happened in the last 3 minutes of the game. Replay allowed the Referee to see that, in fact, a fumble had occurred and that the ball subsequently went untouched through the end zone and across the dead ball line.
The officials ruled correctly that the ball belonged to Saskatchewan as first down on the one yard line.
This play is governed by Rule 1, Section 7 Article 4 (page 18 of the 2008 CFL rule book), which indicates that the ball belongs to the team that last touched it in the field of play, at the point it was last touched. That meant Saskatchewan ball, because creating a fumble by punching the ball out of a player’s hands, does not constitute last touching.
If a Hamilton player had touched or recovered the fumbled ball in the Goal Area, then Hamilton would have been given possession as first down at their own 25 yard line.
Tom Higgins is the CFL’s Director of Officiating. Prior to joining the Canadian Football League office, Higgins spent more than 25 years as a player, coach and personnel director.
