Young athletes turn out for Punt, Pass & Kick
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Brooks Mischel, 7, kicks during the NFL Pepsi Punt, Pass & Kick
competition Saturday at Blanchard Park.
Photo by Donnie Fetter
More than 20 young football players and fans turned out Saturday for the annual NFL Pepsi Punt, Pass & Kick competition at Blanchard Park.
The event allowed children to showcase their kicking and throwing talents scored on distance and accuracy. The competition was divided into events - punting, passing or kicking - and age groups - 8-9, 10-11, 12-13 and 14-15.
Last year's national champion for the 12-13 age group, Kevin Millward, returned, but moved up to a higher age bracket.
Kevin didn't want to speculate on his chances of a repeat, but he did say he believes he has an advantage that just might put him in the finals.
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"I'm in a higher age group this year, so I know it's going to be tougher, but I have seen some of the competition and I know what I need to do to win," Kevin said. "I hope that'll help me."
Ivey Mischel, the only girl competing, wasn't looking for a national title. She just wanted the chance to play with the boys.
"My brother was competing and I was already here, so I thought it might be fun," the 11-year-old said.
Walter Wilson said his son Ben, 11, came out to emulate his big brother.
Ivey Mischel, the only girl competing in the NFL Pepsi Punt, Pass and Kick competition, gets ready to throw.
Photo by Donnie Fetter
"My older son (Jonathan) kicked for Lakeside and is playing soccer in college," Mr. Wilson said. "Ben wanted to kick also, so I told him if he stuck with it I'd practice with as much as he wanted. He wanted to compete in this, so I brought him."
Winners of the competition were to be announced Tuesday.
Winners in each age group next compete in a sectional competition. Those winners will compete in a statewide contest at the Georgia Dome. The top four scorers from across the country go on to compete on the national level at an NFL playoff game.