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Utah High School Title Game Replaces Coin Toss With Wild Helicopter Football Drop

There was a mad scramble for the ball to start the 1A championship game between Monticello High School and Rich High School.

Tom Dierberger

Porter Ellett / X

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell might have a new rule change suggestion come across his desk in the next few days thanks to a one-of-a-kind scene at a high school state football championship on Saturday in Utah.

Instead of using a coin toss to begin the eight-man football title game between Monticello and Rich at Southern Utah University, a helicopter hovered over the midfield logo ready to decide which team would get the first possession of the game.

As two captains from both teams awaited below, the helicopter dropped a football onto the turf. A mad scramble for the ball ensued, and after a few moments, it appeared Rich recovered the ball and won the coin toss—er, helicopter drop.

The Rebels didn't look back from there, as they built a 43–6 lead by halftime and cruised to a 50–14 victory over the Buckaroos.

It was the fifth time in Utah 1A football history that Rich and Monticello met in the state championship game, with Monticello still holding the 3-2 all-time series lead.

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Tom Dierberger
TOM DIERBERGER

Tom Dierberger is a staff writer and editor on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in November 2023 after stints at FOX Sports, Bally Sports and NBC Sports. Dierberger has a bachelor's in communication from St. John's University. In his spare time, he can be seen throwing out his arm while playing fetch with his dog, Walter B. Boy.

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