Forty young athletes from across the country will compete in the NFL PUNT, PASS & KICK National Finals on Saturday, Jan. 11, in Denver during the weekend of the AFC Divisional Playoff Game. A special on-field award presentation will air after the third quarter of the game, which will be televised Jan. 12 on CBS.
The Green Bay Packers' representatives, Marco Damiani, Cambridge, Wis.; Curtis Flannick, Menomonee Falls, Wis.; and Jenna Curtis, Webster, Wis., will be competing after winning their age divisions in the Packers' team championship competition, Dec. 8, in the Don Hutson Center.
Finalists will compete separately in five age divisions at Valor Christian High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo., with the top scorer in each group crowned national champion. All participants launch two punts, two passes and two kicks with scores based on distance and accuracy (in feet). The best score from each activity is tabulated to determine the athlete's total. All youngsters advanced to the national finals through local, sectional and team championship competitions held throughout the NFL regular season. The top four scorers in each age group from across the country qualified as national finalists.
NFL Punt, Pass & Kick, which began in 1961, is celebrating its 52nd anniversary. It is the nation's largest grassroots sports skills competition. NFL stars – including Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterbacks TROY AIKMAN and DAN MARINO – competed in the Punt, Pass & Kick program as youngsters.
"The NFL Punt, Pass & Kick program gives girls and boys around the country a way to stay healthy and active and to learn the basic skills of football," USA Football Executive Director SCOTT HALLENBECK said. USA Football is the official youth development partner of the NFL and all 32 teams. "We are pleased to see so many of our young fans learning about football through this program."
All participants and their guests are provided airfare, hotel accommodations and tickets to the AFC Divisional Playoff Game between the Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers.
Finalists are listed along with the NFL team that hosted their regional competition:
* *
Boys 6-7
*Name *
Hometown
NFL team representing
Marco Damiani
Cambridge, Wis.
Packers
Carter Lind
Southlake, Texas
Cowboys
Sebastian Lippman
Plainview, N.Y.
Jets
Kamden Wright
Canon City, Colo.
Broncos
* *
Girls 6-7
*Name *
Hometown
NFL team representing
Kadyn Camper
Christianburg, Va.
Redskins
Dakota Moberg
Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Dolphins
McKenna Murphy
Fremont, Neb.
Chiefs
Kloie Oguntodu
Mesquite, Texas
Cowboys
Boys 8-9
*Name *
Hometown
NFL team representing
Luke Adams
Hinsdale, Ill.
Bears
Davis Dalton
Madison, Miss.
Saints
Nalukea Kamakea
Mount View, Hawaii
Chargers
Jaxxon Warren
Flower Mound, Texas
Cowboys
Girls 8-9
*Name *
Hometown
NFL team representing
Cadashia Collins
Chattanooga, Tenn.
Titans
Isabella Winston
Warner Robins, Ga.
Falcons
Samantha Woods
Trabuco Canyon, Calif.
Chargers
Kaylynn Spurgin
Allen, Texas
Cowboys
Boys 10-11
*Name *
Hometown
NFL team representing
Jason Alani
Captain Cook, Hawaii
Chargers
Reece MacRae
Austin, Texas
Texans
Hunter Renner
Mishawaka, Ind.
Bears
Tyler Warren
Mechanicsville, Va.
Redskins
Girls 10-11
*Name *
Hometown
NFL team representing
Jayla Medeiros
Kealakekua, Hawaii
Chargers
Eryn Puett
Columbia, Mo.
Rams
Julie Roland
Savannah, Ga.
Falcons
Katie Rahilly
Newberry, Mich.
Lions
Boys 12-13
*Name *
Hometown
NFL team representing
Curtis Flannick
Menomonee Falls, Wis.
Packers
Alex Folz
Spring Grove, Minn.
Vikings
Nicholas Hooley
Goshen, Ind.
Bears
Luke Martin
Colorado Springs, Colo.
Broncos
Girls 12-13
*Name *
Hometown
NFL team representing
Madison Bradley
Haddon Township, N.J.
Eagles
Sophia Saucerman
Indianapolis, Ind.
Colts
Bailey Kortan
Tabor, S.D.
Vikings
Destinee Dugas
Lafayette, La.
Saints
* *
Boys 14-15
*Name *
Hometown
NFL team representing
Nathan Kern
Worland, Wyo.
Broncos
Nathan Tewell
Girard, Pa.
Steelers
Noah Wanzek
Jamestown, N.D.
Vikings
Nicholas Williams
North Augusta, S.C.
Panthers
Girls 14-15
*Name *
Hometown
NFL team representing
Alisa Fallon
Des Plaines, Ill.
Bears
Kayla Kline
Mifflinburg, Pa.
Eagles
Lalelei Mataafa
Lahaina, Hawaii
Chargers
Jenna Curtis
Webster, Wis.
Packers
NFL Punt, Pass and Kick is part of NFL Youth Football, which provides ways for children to play, watch and experience the game of football. For more information, visit www.NFLPPK.com. For other NFL PLAY 60 youth programs, visit www.NFLRUSH.com.
