AREA YOUTHS TO COMPETE AT RAMS GAME IN PUNT, PASS, KICK CONTEST

Eight youths from Southeast Missouri have earned free tickets to the St. Louis Rams game Nov. 29 at the TWA Dome against the Atlanta Falcons.

While the youths may be looking forward to the game, halftime will undoubtably will be the highlight.

The eight will be among 48 youths statewide competing in the halftime Punt, Pass & Kick competition which will serve as the state finals.

Competing from the region will be Hunter Grantham of Jackson (Boys, age 8-9), Waylon Richardet of Perryville (B, 10-11), Daniel Dial of Sikeston (B, 12-13), Brent Kell of St. Mary's (B, 14-15), Tracy Duncan of Dexter (G, 8-9), Kara Schilli of Ste. Genevieve (G, 10-11), Kristen Roberts of Cape Girardeau (G, 12-13) and Caitlin Hoeh of Perryville (G, 14-15).

Duncan and Hoeh have the second highest qualifying totals in their age group, while Richardet is third, Roberts and Kell fourth, Grantham and Schilli fifth and Dial sixth.

All eight competitors advanced out of their area competition and won their sectional. Winning sectional did not necessarily qualify the participant for the state final as 13 sectionals were held statewide with only six spots available in the final.

Southeast Missouri chairperson Charlie Herbst, an officer in the Cape Girardeau Police Department, voiced pleasure in all eight of his sectional winners advancing to state, and with the event in general. Approximately 500 kids in Southeast Missouri participated in the Cape Jaycees sponsored event.

"For me it was encouraging to see the amount of parent interest at the local event," said Herbst. "And at the sectional level we had aunts, uncles, grandmas and grandpas. As a police officer, it was neat to see the amount of parental support. And they supported all the kids, not just their kids."

Herbst said the competition gets intense with each participant limited to just one try in each of the three events. One bad event on any level can prove the end of the line.

At the TWA Dome the youngsters will compete in two of the three events prior to the game and complete the competition at halftime.

"By winning first at the state level, they're going to have a chance to continue to the national level," said Herbst.

A trip is not guaranteed as several states in a region will hold competitions with the top state champion representing the region.