Article 6: Ball in Play
The ball shall be considered in play until an official stops the game by sounding the whistle.
The game shall not be stopped because of player injury until the ball is dead.
The referee shall not stop the game to impose a penalty until the ball is dead.
Article 7: Delay of Game
The game shall not be delayed except by permission of the Referee. Any unauthorized delay shall be subject to penalty.
If the Referee finds it necessary to suspend play while a player in the game has equipment repairs, that player shall be required to leave the game for a minimum of three plays.
If the Referee finds it necessary to suspend play while an injured player receives medical attention on the field that player shall be required to leave the game for a minimum of three plays, except when the injury had occurred as a direct result of an infraction for which the opponent was penalized, in which event the Referee may waive the requirement for the player to leave the game.
On a kickoff Team A shall be required to kick the ball within 20 seconds of notification by the Referee that play is to commence.
If a Team B player interferes with the placement of the ball after it has been declared in play by the Referee that team shall be penalized.
Two things could've happened here:
A) The play was whistled down and a delay of game was assessed (as I'm sure the officials didn't "authorize" this whistle, deeming it "unauthorized" and "subject to penalty").
OR
B) The ball remained in play and the TD stood, as scored.
You can't whistle down a play (did they?) then not assess a penalty for the game being delayed without authorization.
And, if the play wasn't whistled down (I don't think it was), then the ball is considered "in play" and the TD should've counted.
Can't have your cake and eat it too.
Bottom line (I've already said this here before): drunks can't whistle down play. Only officials can. Did they or didn't they? If they did, why no penalty for an unauthorized delay of the game? If they didn't, then the ball's considered in play and the TD stands. Lucky it wasn't the game decider. I would've been choked.
