Ground Report

01/13/2010

32 FINALISTS OUT OF 3.5 MILLION CONTESTANTS QUALIFY FOR
NFL PUNT, PASS AND KICK NATIONAL FINALS IN SAN DIEGO

Finalists Hail From 22 States, CBS to Spotlight Champions

Thirty-two young football players from around the country will compete in the NFL PUNT, PASS AND KICK National Finals on January 17, prior to the AFC Divisional Playoff Game in San Diego. A special on-field award presentation will air after the third quarter of the game, which airs on CBS.

More than 3.5 million boys and girls competed in NFL Punt, Pass and Kick this year. Finalists will compete separately in four age divisions, with the top scorer in each group crowned national champion. All participants launch one punt, one pass and one kick, with scores based on distance and accuracy (in feet). All 32 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 around the country qualified as national finalists.

NFL Punt, Pass and Kick, which began in 1961, is the nation’s largest grassroots sports skills competition. NFL stars including Minnesota Vikings QB BRETT FAVRE, former Dallas Cowboys QB TROY AIKMAN and former Miami Dolphins QB DAN MARINO competed in the Punt, Pass and Kick program as youngsters.

“The NFL Punt, Pass and Kick program gives millions of girls and boys around the country a way to be active participants in the game of football,” said NFL Senior Vice President of Events FRANK SUPOVITZ. “We are pleased to see so many of our young fans entering football through this program.”

All participants and their guest are provided airfare, hotel accommodations and tickets to the AFC Divisional Playoff Game.

Finalists are listed along with the NFL team that hosted their regional competition:

Girls 8-9 AND
Boys 8-9

Sara Braun, Brillion, WI (Packers)
Rondo Hernandez, Worland, WY (Broncos)

Shelby Downard, Marysville, KS (Chiefs)
Bryson Hudgens, Decorah, IA (Vikings)

Aysia Mitchell, Mesquite, TX (Cowboys)
Harrison Wellmann, College Station, TX (Texans)

Coley Rezabek, Long Lake, MN (Vikings)
Tyler Yoder, Temecula, CA (Chargers)

Girls 10-11 AND
Boys 10-11

Lalelei Mataafa, Lahaina, HI (Chargers)
Derek Knotek, Prescott, AZ (Cardinals)

Jordan Remley, Arvada, CO (Broncos)
Micah Potter, Mentor, OH (Browns)

Cierra Walker, Oregon City, OR (Seahawks)
Jay Small, Hinton, IA (Vikings)

Brooklyn Wolosyn, Niagara, WI (Packers)
Jonathan Temple, Turlock, CA (Raiders)

Girls 12-13 AND
Boys 12-13

Tyra Buss, Mount Carmel, IL (Rams)
Matthew Doran, West Melbourne, FL (Buccaneers)

Alexandra Greer, El Dorado, AR (Saints)
Zach Hooker, Fort Collins, CO (Broncos)

Kayla Hochhalter, Carrington ND (Vikings)
Scott McCormick, Flat Rock, MI (Lions)

Alexus Strayhorn, Virginia Beach, VA (Redskins)
Jeremy Wiegandt, Larimore, ND (Vikings)

Girls 14-15 AND
Boys 14-15

Mikala Gordon, Pueblo, CO (Broncos)
Dominic Berlin, Eau Claire, WI (Packers)

Jillian Maloney, Alpharetta, GA (Falcons)
Andrew Buckley, Concord, CA (Raiders)

Cassie Miller, Cave Creek, AZ (Cardinals)
Casey Kelly, Red Lion, PA (Eagles)

Catelyn Preston, Oregon City, OR (Seahawks)
Austin Riley, Alamo TN (Titans)

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, NFLYouthfootball.com, the NFL’s official youth football website.

GOOD LUCK ALL!