Local Riverbank resident George Hernandez Jr. entered the US Bank Coin Flip Kid contest on the San Francisco 49ers website and came up a winner. As a result, the nine-year-old and his dad, George Sr. were invited to attend the San Francisco 49ers game against the St. Louis Rams on Sunday, Dec. 1.

The 49ers were not the only ones that were victorious that day, with a 23-13 win over the Rams, so was the young Hernandez, when he was standing on the field at Candlestick Park with Jerry Rice, Honorary Team Captain; quarterback Colin ‘Kap’ Kaepernick and linebacker Patrick Willis, Team Captains; and the referees for the official coin toss to start the game. The Rams won the coin toss and chose to receive the ball.

Hernandez is a fourth grader at Crossroads Elementary and has a twin sister named Alexis. He expressed that one of his favorite memories of ‘Game Day’ was being on the field watching all the “big” football players and meeting Jerry Rice as well as the other professional players.

When asked if he had an exciting time on Sunday, the youngster stated, “Yes, I got to run with Jerry Rice and hang out with him and he looks very young and I also got his autograph.”

“I believe overall this was a very memorable day for my son,” said mom Rosie Hernandez. “Thank you to US Bank and the 49ers.”

Along with the honor of participating in the coin toss at midfield, Hernandez Jr. and his dad were also given seats right behind the uprights in the end zone, treated to a tailgate party which featured an all you can eat and drink buffet, and a reward card from US Bank. They also got to take pictures with players and the 49ers miner mascot.

“I also got high fives from Kap, Willis, (Anquan) Boldin, (Anthony) Dixon,” said Hernandez, Jr., rattling off the names of some new, famous friends.

“Yeah, it was fun.”

And it is a day that will forever be in the memory bank for the lucky kid from Riverbank that won the coin toss.