Sixty young athletes participated in the NFL Pepsi Punt, Pass and Kick competition at the Western Family YMCA on Aug. 23, hoping to win a chance to compete on TV during an NFL playoff game.
The kids were divided into four age groups then they lined up on the YMCA's soccer fields and punted, passed and kicked a football as far as they could, winning points for distance and accuracy.
Hockessin resident Gabe Gonzalez, 9, said he had a great time showing off his football skills during the competition.
Punting, passing and kicking are fun, he said, but he would rather play running back for his favorite football team, the Indianapolis Colts. Hopefully, competing at the YMCA will be his first step in a long and successful football career, Gonzalez said.
Famous quarterbacks Dan Marino and Drew Bledsoe both competed in Punt, Pass and Kick when they were kids and more than four million children will put their football skills to the test this year across the nation.
Participating was a great way to practice place kicking skills, said Hockessin resident Connor Matheny, 8, who would like to be quarterback of his favorite football team, the Washington Redskins, when he gets older.
The winners from the Western Family YMCA will compete in sectionals on Oct. 4, which are followed by team championships in November and December and the national finals in January.
