Can the neutral zone extend into the end zone during a scrimmage down?

The neutral zone in American football is the space between the offensive and defensive lines at the beginning of a scrimmage down. According to NFHS rules, the neutral zone does not extend into the end zone. Instead, it is defined as the area from the line of scrimmage up to 2 yards into the field of play. This limitation ensures that defensive players cannot encroach too far into the offensive territory before the play begins, which helps maintain the integrity of the starting position for both teams.

This answer aligns with safety and fairness principles, as it prevents players from having an unfair advantage by being too close to the line of scrimmage, especially when considering plays that may originate from deeper in the field. Other potential answers suggest different interpretations of the neutral zone's limits, but only the clarification about the 2-yard limit into the field of play accurately reflects the rules governing scrimmage downs.