High School footbal rules

Question
In the OHSAA Fottball playoffs last night, Walsh Jesuit had Cortland 3rd and 19 from their own seven yard line. The snap went to the QB in shotgun formation, who pitched the ball to the RB who ran to his right and "quick-kicked" rugby style. The Walsh defenders tackled the "RB/K" immediately after the punt. Is this roughing the "kicker", or is the player ruled to be a "runner."

FYI, the officials last night called it "roughing the kicker" and gave Cortland 15 yards and an automatic First Down.

Answer
Well, that is a call that could go either way.  If the team had been in a punting formation and rolled out and rugby kicked the ball, it would have definitely been roughing the kicker.  However, because the team lined up in an offensive formation and ran would appeared to be a running play, the roughing then becomes a judgement call.  Even though the kid lined up as a running back, he still may be awarded the protection of a punter, since no player is a kicker or punter until they actually kick the ball.  The referree should have determined if the player obviously SHOWED that he was going to punt in time for the defender to stop his momentum.  I have had a similar type play twice as a referree, in both of my cases it was the quarterback punting the ball.  My personal rule of thumb on a nonobvious punt like you've described is to use the same type of logic I use in calling roughing the passer.  In other words, I treat when the player SHOWS that he is punting like a quarterback has just thrown the ball.  If there is then contact quickly enough after the player SHOWs punt (or the quarterback throws the ball) then that the player could not stop, I call nothing.  If the defender has time to stop after the player SHOWS punt (or QB throws), the you have roughing the kicker (or passer).  All in all, it really comes down to a judgement call, mostly dependent on when the kicker SHOWS that he is going to punt.  I hope this answers your question.