SCPrepTalk

Can an interception be returned out of the endzone? Refs called it a touch back.

The same thing happened tonight in the Chester vs FFC game.

Interesting. I was about to say, "Yes". But maybe SCHSL rules are different.

I was told the ref blew the whistle inverted so that’s why they put the ball at the 20 of the Chester vs FFC game. So I’m not sure of the rule either.

yes

No you can not return a ball if you intercept it in the endzone. It is placed on the 20

You can absolutely run the ball out of the end zone after an interception. If an official blows his/her whistle inadvertently, then the defense has the option of taking a touchback (ball placed on the 20-yard line) or replaying the down. After an inadvertent whistle the ball becomes dead and if the defense is in possession of the ball in the opponents end zone the results of the play is a touchback. Now kicks are a different matter, if a kick breaks the plane of the receivers goal line, the ball becomes dead and the results of the play is a touchback (no return is possible).

I spoke with a Ref last night just to make sure. In High School Football you can not return an Interception if it is caught in the endzone. If the player intercepts the pass outside the endzone and his momentum carries him into the endzone he can return it, but if it is intercepted in the endzone it is a touchback.

I don’t know the official you talked to but he’s very mistaken. The NFHS rules are clear when the defense intercepts a forward pass the ball remains live and can be returned from any point on the field including the end zone.