South Brunswick's Slover Wins NFL Punt, Pass and Kick Competition at Meadowlands

South Brunswick's Michael Slover (PPK) competition at the New Meadowlands before Sunday's New York Giants-Miami Dolphins game. He walked off the field a champion.

Michael finished first in the 10-year-old age group with a combined total of 213 1/2 feet. 

"Watching the competition it was hard to tell how he was doing," said Michael's father Tom Slover. "I couldn't believe when he won, it was just outstanding. Simply amazing."

In local qualifiers held over the last month at Rowland Park, Michael was ranked number one in both competitions held in this region, besting hundreds of other 10-year-olds from throughout the area. In the local NFL PPK competition, Michael won first place with a combined distance of 199 feet. In the regional PPK, he won first place with a combined distance of 204 feet. 

Michael, a fifth-grader at Brunswick Acres Elementary School, received some help and guidance along the way from South Brunswick High School football head coach Rick Mantz, kickers for the Vikings, his former Pop Warner coach Mark Labos, and his older brother John. All the work paid off as Michael now has a chance to move on to compete during the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs later this year.

The winner of the competitions from every NFL team will have their distances compared and the top four with the longest distance will move on to the ultimate championship, Tom said.

On Sunday, Michael got to meet former Giants punter Sean Landeta, who handed him his first place award. So all in all, it was a magical day for a talented South Brunswick kid.

"(Michael) just jumped for joy," Tom said. "All the kids were sitting down when he found out, and I don't think his knees and hands hit the floor."