For a ball carrier to score a
touchdown, we know that the ball in his possession must break the plane of the goal
line. But the interpretation of the plane of the goal line now is this: The goal-line plane
runs between the pylons and includes the entire pylon. This plane does not extend
beyond the pylons except in two specific cases: when a ball carrier touches the pylon,
and when a ball carrier touches the ground in the end zone. In the new 2011-12 rule
book you will find this change in two places: Rule 2-12-2 (definition of goal line) and in
Rule 8-2-1-a (how a touchdown is scored).
Previously we extended the goal-line plane if a ball carrier went into the air
because of contact by an opponent, and we did not extend it if he dived on his own. But
now it doesn’t matter how he got into the air. What does matter is whether he touches
either the pylon or the ground in the end zone. If he doesn‘t do either of these, the
plane is not extended—no matter how he got into the air.



My thoughts- I think they ruled that the runner touched the endzone in bounds but the ball did not cross the plane before the runner touched the pylon with his other leg.