Yet another football stat question ...

Pretty sure the college rules, at least, allow for a "team rush" for situations like that. Also covers kneeldowns, bad snaps, etc.

 

We're costing Backup Player A a scholarship.

 

And he tries so hard.

 

This. There are such things as team rush attempts. In the box score the team gets a first down but no individual player gets it and I'm pretty sure it doesn't go into passing, rushing nor penalty. It is simply a team first down. It is rare but it happens and that is how it goes in the boxscore.

 

The player who fumbled is responsible for the loss in yardage, so it does count against them.