For most in attendance at the Cottonwood/Jordan football game in Utah Friday night, it looked like the Beetdiggers were closing-in on a 24-22 victory with about a half minute to play.
Jordan punted from deep in its territory, which started a journey into the rulebook after the Cottonwood punt returner called for a fair catch at the Jordan 45-yard line.
Cottonwood head coach Casey Miller didn’t need to turn to his rulebook. He knew Section 24 Article 3 of the National Federation of State High School State Associations football rulebook allowed his team to try a free-kick for a field goal.
Below is the rule:
A free kick is any kick which puts the ball in play to start a free-kick down. After the ready-for-play and before the kick, each player other than the kicker and holder for a place kick must be behind his free-kick line. A free kick is used for a kickoff, for a kick following a safety, and is used if a free kick is chosen following a fair catch or awarded fair catch.
NFHS RuleBook, Section 24 Article 3
After officials agreed that Coach Miller could send-out his kicker Ryan Nielson with a tee for a field goal attempt, all eyes and all the pressure was on his sophomore kicker.
As you can see below, Nielson booted a 45-yard field goal that would give Cottonwood a 25-24 victory.
