Andrew Buckley (left) and Jonathan Temple will wear the Silver and Black as they compete for the NFL Punt, Pass and Kick National Championship.
Two youngsters from Northern California— Jonathan Temple of Turlock (Boys 10-11) and Andrew Buckley of Concord (Boys 14-15)— will wear the Silver and Black of the Oakland Raiders during competition in the NFL PUNT, PASS AND KICK National Finals on January 17, prior to the AFC Divisional Playoff Game in San Diego. They are among 32 young football players from around the country that will compete this weekend with a special on-field award presentation will air after the third quarter of the game, which airs on CBS.
"The Oakland Raiders offer robust support to all NFL Youth Football Programs and we wish Jonathan and Andrew the very best as they compete in the Punt, Pass and Kick finals this year --- we will be rooting for them," said Oakland Raiders Chief Executive Amy Trask.
More than 3.5 million boys and girls competed in NFL Punt, Pass and Kick this year. Finalists 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. 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.
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 http://www.nflyouthfootball.com/, the NFL's official youth football website.* *
