Three Carson City youngsters will be heading for the West Coast finals of the Boys & Girls Club Punt, Pass and Kick competition this month after qualifying in Reno.
Whether everybody in the families gets to watch, though, depends on rounding up four more tickets for the Dec. 10 Oakland Raiders game.
Winning the girls 8-9 year-old age group was Savannah Flansburg. For the boys in the same age group, Blake Davidson was the winner, and Matt Rutledge qualified in the 10-11 year-old title.
Savannah is ranked second overall on the West Coast for her division. Matt placed second in July competition, and Blake won a September event. Those finishing first or second in each of the competitions automatically advance to the next round.
The three youngsters will compete Dec. 10 at halftime of the New York Jets-Raiders game in Oakland, Calif.
"There are seven sections in the West Coast competition," said Mark Jacoby, assistant executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Western Nevada and chairman of the Carson City event. Jacoby received a grant from the National Football League Charities for $1,000 to hold the competition in Carson City.
"If one of the kids wins the competition in Oakland, they will compete at a 'warm-weathered' playoff game. If they win there, they will advance to the Super Bowl finals, which will be held during the Super Bowl halftime show in Tampa Bay, Fla."
Each of the kids will compete against six others in their division in Oakland.
Matt, who is 10, said his strongest skill is passing. He was the quarterback the past two years with the Carson Blue Senators Pop Warner team. Matt's the son of Karen and Mark Rutledge.
"Blake's strongest area is his kicking," said Jacoby.
"He really wants to win bad. He's consistent in all areas."
Blake, 9, is the son of Tamie and Glenn Davidson.
"And Savannah, she's one tough little girl," added Jacoby.
"She's a cheerleader for one of the Pop Warner football teams. She told me she wants to play football next year."
"I do good at everything," 9-year-old Savannah softly said, regarding her skills at punting, passing and kicking.
"She's been practicing at home and at the Boys & Girls Club," said mom, Vicki.
"And she has natural talent," added dad, Bryon.
"This is Blake's first-ever competition," said Tamie Davidson. "We're jazzed and shocked at the same time. We're very happy, too."
The families face one dilemma. The Punt, Pass and Kick organizers only allotted tickets for the parents and the child in the competition. The families would like to take the winner's siblings, also. As the game is a sell-out, it will be tough.
"I'm surprised the organizers only gave the three tickets," said Karen Rutledge. "What are we supposed to do?"
"We'd like to take Blake's little brother along," said Tamie Davidson. "I don't know what we'll do with him if we can't take him with us."
The entourage is in need of four tickets so all family members can make the trip. They are willing to purchase the tickets from a ticket holder. They are not asking for a freebie.
"If anyone out there, a season ticket holder or someone else, has tickets we can buy, we will. We need four," said Rutledge.
"These kids have a good chance of coming away winners," said Jacoby.
Anyone who can help the families with tickets to the Jets versus Raiders game on Dec. 10 at the Oakland Coliseum, call 881-1223 and leave your name and phone number with Rhonda Costa-Landers, who will contact the families.
Do you have extra tickets to the Dec. 10 Raiders game? Call the Appeal at 881-1223