What happens when a team commits a grounding penalty on their own 5-yard line?

When a team commits a grounding penalty while positioned on their own 5-yard line, the result is a safety, which awards 2 points to the opposing team. This situation typically arises when a quarterback is under pressure and throws an incomplete pass without a receiver in the vicinity, which constitutes intentional grounding.

Because the infraction occurs within the team's own end zone, the penalty carries additional consequences. The safety results in the play being ruled as two points for the defense, and the team that committed the grounding must then kick the ball to the opposing team from their own 20-yard line after the safety is declared. This penalty enforces both the loss of yardage and the immediate advantageous position for the opposing team.

Other options do not accurately represent the outcomes according to NFHS rules. For instance, simply assessing a loss of down without additional consequences would not reflect the rules applied in this specific scenario where field position plays a crucial role.