question for all the armchair coaches...

[baseballnerd]

Saw this in a high school game.

Your team intercepts the ball on a 3rd down,and it is downed at your 1 yard line.But, there is a penalty on the offense for holding. Do youdecline the penalty, and take the ball on your 1, or do you take the penalty and force a 4th and 25 fromyour 32?

They don't have a field goal kicker. Their defense is their strong point.

What would you do?

 

[PBRME]

What point in the game, what was the score, and who was winning?

 

[Original48]

They won't punt and could throw some type of hail mary and could end up scoring. Chances are, however, that you would end up getting the ball well ahead of the one yard line so accept the penalty. Ok I've spent 5 minutes going over this so obviously I needed a timeout...and I'm still not sure. Ok..I say take the ball.

 

[baseballnerd]

No score. 1st quarter.

 

[Roy Munson.sixpack]

anything can happen either way.Id rather have control of it. Id run a slant with a long sinny post and 2 out patters on the corner.

 

[Original48]

I thought a grounding is the only thing that causes a loss of down and that obviously didn't happen. How is it 4th down if you accept the penalty after a third down play?

ETA..illegal substitution loss of down?

 

[PBRME]

No score first quarter then I take the penalty. My field position could only get better and odds are they won't convert if going for it.

Now if it's late in the game in the 4th quarter with a lead greater than 5 I take the ball. Run as much time as I can off the clock and if I'm still pinned on 4th I snap it out of the endzone.

 

[baseballnerd]

Makes it easier decision.
Take the ball.

 

[baseballnerd]

They took the ball at the 1. On second down they fumbled it away. The other team scored their only TD of the night.