Welcome to Ask the Official, a weekly blog series from USA Football. We’ve teamed up with Bill LeMonnier, USA Football rules editor, who’s served as a college football referee and also works with ESPN as a rules analyst. Look for LeMonnier’s blog every week during football season, as we take reader-submitted questions or revisit a controversial play that took place the previous weekend. See below for information on how to submit your questions. Here’s today’s topic:

Q: A kicker attempts a field goal, which is blocked. The loose ball ricochets back in front of the kicker, who then boots the ball off the ground and through the uprights. The officials confer, and rule the field goal is good, awarding the kicker's team three points. Should they have counted the field goal?

A: "In high school and at the NCAA level, this would be an illegal kicking of a loose ball. If the place kick is not held by the holder, the kicker can pick it up, run, pass, punt or drop-kick, but cannot legally kick a loose ball off the ground.

"In high school, the penalty for doing so is 15 yards from the spot of the foul, and a loss of down. In college, it's 10 yards from the spot and a loss of down."

This play actually happened over the weekend, in an NCAA Division III game between Texas Lutheran and Belhaven (Mississippi). Texas Lutheran kicker Tyler Hopkins "converted" the kick. The officials conferred briefly, then ruled the kick was good. Hopkins, a freshman who was playing in just his second collegiate game, was officially credited with his first made collegiate field goal. Watch video of the play below.

USA Football Rules Editor Bill LeMonnier is a former college referee who currently serves as an ESPN NCAA rules analyst. Click here to ask Bill a question. Make sure to put “Ask the Official” in the subject line.