By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

LaPlace native Jacob Bayard won both the local and sectional NFL Punt, Pass and Kick competitions and will advance to the Superdome on Dec. 16, where he will attempt to make it to the national level.

Bayard, an entrant in the 12-to-13 year old bracket, took first place in the local competition that was held in Donaldsonville in September. On Oct. 27, he won the sectional contest in the age groups at the competition in New Roads.

Bayard has competed in the Punt, Pass and Kick contest for the past four years, and achieved a first place finish in three of those years. His fourth was a second place finish.

He will attempt to advance on Dec, 16, in the Superdome, before the New Orleans Saints/Arizona Cardinals contest.

Bayard, a quarterback for Jacobs Middle School in St. Amant, says that it gets harder as he works his way up.

”It never really gets easier,” said Bayard. “The older you get, the more competition there is.”

Bayard and his family moved from LaPlace to St. Amant five years ago. His father, Leo, lived here for 42 years before moving, and plans on potentially moving back soon with his family as Jacob prepares for his freshman year in high school.

Bayard considers the passing portion of the competition to be his strength – no surprise, as he’s a quarterback. He says he’s putting a lot of work in to get over the top.

“(The Superdome competition) will be a lot harder for sure,” Bayard said. “I will have to practice a whole lot to try to win it.”