Prep football: 6 straight turnovers help Layton mercy-rule Clearfield in shutout
-
- Layton High tight end Jack Anderson (9) tries to hurdle a Clearfield defender during a game Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Layton. (TRE ASAY, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
-
- Layton High defensive lineman, Trayce McKinley (55) celebrates a fumble recovery during a game against Clearfield on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Layton. (TRE ASAY, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
-
- Clearfield High running back Micah Salazar breaks a Layton tackle during a game Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Layton. (TRE ASAY, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
-
- Ray Wright, a World War II veteran, helps with the coin toss before a prep football game between Layton and Clearfield on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Layton. (TRE ASAY, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
-
- Clearfield High quarterback Brik Barlow scrambles during a game against Layton on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Layton. (TRE ASAY, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
-
- In this dual exposure with an American flag, Layton High’s student section wearing USA-themed clothing are seen at a football game Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Layton. (TRE ASAY, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
-
- Layton High player Karsen Turner (25) celebrates his touchdown with Harper Fullmer (3) during a game against Clearfield on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Layton. (TRE ASAY, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
-
- Clearfield High reciever Cardston Russell returns a Layton kickoff during a game Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Layton. (TRE ASAY, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
-
- Layton and Clearfield players go through the postgame handshake line after a prep football game Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Layton. (TRE ASAY, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
-
- Coaches from Layton and Clearfield hug after a prep football game Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Layton. (TRE ASAY, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
-
- Layton High football players celebrate with their student section after a win against Clearfield on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Layton. (TRE ASAY, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
LAYTON — What a difference a week makes.
A new rule in Utah high school football this year ends a game early if a team is up by at least 44 points at any time during the fourth quarter.
Last week, Clearfield cut a game short by crushing Kearns 46-0 but on Friday, the Falcons improbably lost to Layton 47-0 in a nonregion reversal of fortunes that didn’t even sniff the final frame.
In a sad rendition of the joke “I have some good news and I have some bad news” — The good news was Clearfield had the ball; the bad news was Clearfield had the ball, and coughed up six straight turnovers in the first half.
Layton sophomore quarterback Tillman Thomas, coach Trevor Thomas’ nephew, capitalized on the Clearfield carnage, throwing four touchdown passes to three different receivers.
“Today, receivers ran the right routes, read the right guys and I made the right throws when they needed to be thrown,” Thomas said. “We knew we could run it super well, but we knew we could throw it even better, so that was the game plan.
“We were looking to run early, but the pass just came.”
The Lancers (2-1) won the honorary coin toss by 102-year-old World War II veteran Ray Wright and opted to receive.
Thomas converted three third-down plays on a 12-play, 82-yard drive that consumed 6 minutes, 16 seconds of clock time, giving the Lancers a 7-0 lead on a 14-yard pass to Carter Hughes.
“We wanted the ball and wanted to receive and go score,” Thomas said. “We got to third down; we don’t panic. We know we can do it, like any other play.”
Clearfield (2-1) got its first possession that started the turnover train.
Layton junior captain Trayce McKinley smothered Clearfield quarterback Brik Barlow, the ball came loose and Darius Fa’amoe scooped it up and raced 35 yards for a touchdown and a 14-0 edge.
“I saw him step and I just went inside and got the sack. I knew my boys would cover the ball and it went for a touchdown,” McKinley said. “We’ve got the most athletic line out there; I truly believe we’ve got the best D-line in the state.”
To delineate the Falcons woes, the turnovers were that first fumble, an interception (by Beckett Godfrey), a fumble (recovered by Nate Wensel), two special teams mistakes (once where the punter fumbled the fourth-down snap, and another a snap that sailed over the punter’s head). The other turnover was a fumble on fourth down, eventually ruled an incomplete pass and a turnover on downs.
After the opening kick, Layton’s possessions began on the Clearfield 47, their own 39, the Clearfield 43, their own 48 and the Clearfield 30.
Thomas threw a second TD pass to Hughes (22 yards), then hooked up with cousin Easton Thomas (Trevor Thomas’s son).
“We did that all the time when we were little; I loved doing that,” Tillman Thomas said. “It’s awesome having receivers to throw to; not just one guy, but everyone I’m comfortable with.”
To show how things were going Layton’s way, the Lancers missed the extra point after the cousin connection — disappointing to some because that would have started a running clock.
Luke Byers had had a 22-yard touchdown run earlier in the second quarter, so the score was 34-0 and looked to be the halftime total. But when the errant snap went over the punter’s head, Layton had possession at the Clearfield 30 with 17 seconds remaining.
Instead of taking a knee, Thomas fired a 30-yard dart to Drew Godderidge with one second left and a 41-zip lead at the break.
“Our offensive coordinator wanted to run it, but our head coach was yelling to go throw it. We did, and we scored,” Thomas said. “We watched film; we knew what they were doing before they even did it.”
Clearfield effectively had a seventh turnover to open the third quarter, running eight plays before losing it on downs yet again.
A 35-yard run by Karsen Turner for the final touchdown at the 4:13 mark of the third quarter made the fourth period not necessary, ending the game at the quarter break.
Layton improved to 30-25 overall against Clearfield and has won 13 of the last 15 since 2007.
A 30-0 victory over Northridge last week gives the Layton defense back-to-back shutouts.
“We came into this game knowing what we could do and just kept going. We accomplished what we wanted,” McKinley said. “We actually thought their run game was pretty good, but we wanted to be more physical; we had to come out with the first punch.”
Bob Judson has been covering high school sports for the Standard-Examiner for 51 years.
