Wright stepped into the circle of Layton and Clearfield captains with the head referee and was given a commemorative coin to flip, to decide the opening possession for the game.

Layton won the toss, elected to receive, and proceeded to crunch Clearfield 47-0 that night.

Wright’s ceremonial coin toss continued a tradition started three years ago by Layton High athletic director Brian Berrong.

“It’s just something I wanted to do at the school; kind of one of my ideas. Everybody does a coin flip before the game. I try to make it uniquely special,” Berrong said.

BOB JUDSON, Special to the Standard-Examiner

Berrong grew up in Oklahoma and said high school football is very big there.

“It’s based on back home, when I was a kid growing up. I’m trying to bring a little piece of home,” Berrong said. “They always had somebody deliver the game ball; they always had someone do the coin toss.”

Wright came to light after being involved with the Layton City parade on the Fourth of July and was given the coin as a memento.

Mayors of the competing communities — Layton’s Joy Petro and Clearfield’s Mark Shepherd — delivered the game ball, so they each got a coin.

Berrong is judicious with the coins, ordering 10 per game, home and away, parceling out others to each head coach, to the “white hat” (lead referee), and one if a single person performs the national anthem.

Then three more go to the outstanding Layton offensive, defensive and special teams player of the game.

“We do that as kind of a motivation for a kid who makes plays and plays hard. It’s a great little keepsake, something they can put in their dresser and still have when they’re 50 years old; small enough so you can keep it as a memory for as long as you like,” Berrong said. “Some other schools do coins. Some have started doing coins as a result of us doing them these last few years. I think it adds to the game.”

On away games, Layton head coach Trevor Thomas takes two coins with him, one for the opposing coach and one for the “white hat.”

At home, Layton tries to have a theme for every game, and the Clearfield game was USA night, making Wright a natural fit for the ceremony.

THE COIN

Since the coin is central to this story, here are the fine print details:

Photo supplied, Brian Berrong

On one side is a Layton football helmet (heads), and on the other side is a helmet of Layton’s opponent for the night (tails), and the date of the game.

Both sides are full color; the coin is stamped brass. It is 1 3/4 inches in diameter and 1/8-inch to 3/16-inch thick.

The keepsakes are produced by Point Emblems in Roy, and taking about a month to produce after they receive Layton’s schedule.

OTHER HONORARIES

In the second game after Layton began the coin flip tradition, it also came on a USA-themed night and feted another World War II veteran.

“Art Ukena was 100 years old. He actually went ashore at Utah Beach on D-Day. He did a coin toss and has since passed away,” Berrong emotionally recalled. “It was an honor for us to have him come, but also gave us a chance as fans and members of the community to give him that last acknowledgement for his service.”

Photo supplied, Brian Berrong

It’s hard to top their first coin flip event for star power, when Layton alum Marcus Kemp returned when still a member of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs.

“He was a wide receiver, and wore his two massive Super Bowl rings onto the field to do the coin toss with his decorated hand,” Berrong said. “It was awesome … the kids were blown away. The officials were blown away. The coaches were blown away. It was fun.”

Kemp is now a member of the Layton High coaching staff.

Celebrity has a way of bubbling onto the field, as in the case of Mason Wright (no relation to Ray), known online as the “Buff Runner.”

Mason Wright is an ultra-endurance athlete and registered dietitian (prepping at Viewmont and playing as a defensive end) who went viral for extreme running feats to support local single parents.

“He came to Layton in the spring and became the first American to do 1,000 miles on a track. Mason was doing about 50 to 60 miles a day on our track with the goal to hit 1,000,” Berrong said. “He was doing it as a Single Parent Project for charity. We invited him to come back to do the coin flip for the Northridge game (earlier this year).”

A skydiver delivered the game ball for the Northridge rivalry game and was awarded one of that night’s coins.

Berrong said the list of future honorees is fluid and that opportunities often just present themselves.

Layton played Copper Hills a couple of weeks ago and Berrong’s son-in-law is a CH graduate, so he is in line for a coin.

“I have a working list for who to give a coin. A wish list, if that makes sense, of people I’d like to come do it. I’m open to suggestions,” Berrong said.

Inside the Lines covers Northern Utah high school sports through the eyes of 51-year sportswriting veteran Bob Judson, who is a resident of Layton.