Monroe Pop Warner to host punt, pass and kick competition Saturday

Monroe - Young pro football fans will have the opportunity to exhibit their football skills when Monroe Pop Warner Football hosts an NFL Pepsi Punt, Pass and Kick competition for the first time in more than 25 years on Saturday, Aug. 5. The competition is free and open to boys and girls ages 8-15. It will be held on at 9 a.m. at Smith’s Clove Park in Monroe. For competition information, call Bill Scully at 782-0620. Entry forms are available from www.monroecrusadersfootball.com. The NFL Pepsi Punt, Pass and Kick football competition allows youngsters to showcase their talents in punting, passing and kicking with scores based on distance and accuracy. Age classification is as of Dec. 31 of the current year. The top finishers from each of eight age groups at the local competition will advance to a sectional competition. The winners at the sectional competition will have their scores compared with other sectional champions; the top five scorers from the pool of sectional champions advance to the team championship, to be held at the Meadowlands at an upcoming Giants game this season. Age-group champions at this level will be declared NFL Pepsi Punt, Pass and Kick Team Champions. The top four finishers in the boys’ and girls’ divisions within each age bracket from the pool of all team champions will qualify for the national finals at an NFL playoff game in January. A number of NFL players have competed in Punt, Pass and Kick, including former and current quarterbacks such as Dan Marino and Drew Bledsoe.