With running clock, can a team effectively kill half a quarter or more without snapping the ball?

[foxbat]

So last night in the Harrison-Logansport game, Harrison was leading 43-7 with a running clock and got the ball back from Logansport late in the 4th.  They gave the ball to one of their linemen to carry the ball, ala The Fridge, and he gained three yards.  A couple of QB sneaks after that and they were still moving the ball and very deep in Logansport territory.  It became apparent that even running QB sneaks and the like, a score could happen before the game clock expired.  Harrison then took a knee three times in a row ... sitting around Logansport's 12 or so, but still had around a minute and a half to kill.  Choices seemed to be 1) take another knee and give Logansport the ball with a maybe a minute and a half left, 2) run the ball or go for a field goal ... thus adding points to the scoreboard, or 3) figure out how to get a net 10-yard punt.  Harrison opted for #4 and took a delay.  They then took a second delay and then a third.  By the time of the third delay, there wasn't enough time on the game clock to make the play clock relevant and the teams lined up.  In essence, Harrison ran the equivalent of six plays' worth of time of the clock with just three snaps and ended up on the Logansport 27 or so when the game was over.

Am I missing anything or, in that situation, the defense has no way to keep that clock from literally burning down as Harrison still had another 60 backwards yards that they could have given and burned a play's worth of time for each one.  Even at half a minute per play, they had another 6 minutes worth of penalties that they could have peeled off the game clock.  Granted, the defense could call a timeout, which would then force a snap on 4th down in that situation or, under normal circumstances, accepting the delay penalty kills the game clock until the snap occurs ... thus also forcing the 4th down snap.  With the running clock, that clock stop in accepting the delay penalty seems to be nullified ... correct? ... leading to a situation where you don't even have to take a victory formation to run down the clock; just a half dozen or more delays if there aren't timeouts remaining.

[Bobref]

You’re not missing anything. Under ordinary timing, the game clock starts on the snap after a delay penalty is accepted. But not under Mercy Rule timing.

[JustRules]

As the R if there was more time remaining I would probably have a discussion with the B coach to see if he wants to run more offensive plays. If he does I invoke the God rule and order the clock stopped so team A is required to snap the ball.

[Bobref]

6 hours ago, JustRules said:

I invoke the God rule

It’s good to wear the white hat, isn’t it?

[JustRules]

4 hours ago, Bobref said:

It’s good to wear the white hat, isn’t it?

If I never have to invoke that rule though I'll be happy. It means things have gone sideways in some way. In 20+ years I've never worked with a referee who used it. I think you could probably handle this with a brief conversation with the coach as well. The mercy rules allows teams to still get live snaps against another team so while the outcome of the game is decided, it's still valuable for both teams. I doubt a coach would actually try to burn a half a quarter doing this.

[Impartial_Observer]

I think you really have to read the room in this situation. Can you fudge things to kill some time, sure. But not at the expense of making a mockery of the game. It’s not that hard to find a kid who’s shoestrings need tightening up or the odd helmet snap that the kid is having difficulty with…..you can get a fresh 25 if need be.