▁a ▁strategy .). ▁However , ▁this ▁penalty ▁can ▁be ▁decl ined , ▁and ▁if ▁applicable , ▁can ▁run ▁out ▁the ▁clock ▁if ▁repeated . ▁ ▁Def ensive ▁pass ▁inter ference ▁may ▁be ▁committed ▁in ▁or ▁near ▁the ▁end ▁zone ▁toward ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁a ▁game ▁in ▁order ▁to ▁prevent ▁a ▁touch down . ▁This ▁would ▁place ▁the ▁ball ▁at ▁or ▁near ▁the ▁goal ▁line ▁with ▁a ▁first ▁down , ▁and ▁give ▁the ▁defense ▁of ▁a ▁team ▁that ▁is ▁slightly ▁ahead ▁a ▁chance ▁to ▁prevent ▁a ▁touch down ▁that ▁would ▁put ▁the ▁oppon ent ▁ahead . ▁The ▁unf air ▁act ▁clause ▁allows ▁for ▁a ▁touch down ▁to ▁be ▁awarded ▁in ▁such ▁situations ▁and ▁is ▁explicitly ▁recommended ▁when ▁such ▁fou ls ▁are ▁repeated . ▁ ▁Since ▁a ▁penalty ▁will ▁stop ▁the ▁clock , ▁a ▁team ▁may ▁commit ▁a ▁f oul ▁late ▁in ▁a ▁game ▁in ▁order ▁to ▁stop ▁the ▁clock , ▁particularly ▁if ▁they ▁have ▁no ▁timeout s ▁remaining . ▁Some ▁le agues ▁have ▁instit uted ▁a ▁ 1 0 - second ▁run off ▁in ▁order ▁to ▁offset ▁any ▁advantage ▁gained ▁from ▁this . ▁( See ▁below ) ▁ ▁In ▁the ▁w an ing ▁minutes ▁of ▁a ▁game , ▁comm itting ▁a ▁f oul ▁such ▁as ▁holding ▁results ▁in ▁the ▁down ▁being ▁re play ed , ▁and ▁while ▁the ▁clock ▁stops ▁after ▁the ▁play , ▁the ▁time ▁that ▁el apsed ▁during ▁the ▁play ▁still ▁came ▁off ▁the ▁clock , ▁thus ▁allowing ▁teams ▁to ▁gain ▁extra ▁down s ▁to ▁run ▁out ▁the ▁clock ▁by ▁fou ling