More or less.

That's 13 turns on and off the interstate, and a considerable amount of traffic around Charlotte on any given day, never mind around game time.

For about three dozen youngsters competing in this year's installment of the venerable Pepsi NFL Punt, Pass and Kick (PP&K) football skills competition staged by Carrboro recreation and parks at Chapel Hill High on Sunday, the shortest distance to Charlotte was a straight line.

The PP&K competition measured youngsters' tosses, punts and place-kicks off a tee for both raw distance and accuracy along a straight measuring tape. For example, if a participant passed the ball 100 feet but it landed 30 feet wide of the tape, the final score would be 70.

It's all very fitting, in that football is a game played on a grid of lines -- perfectly measured, straight and true, constant at every venue.

"It was great fun and really a different activity," said Meg Stouffer, mother of two age-group winners in Sunday's competition.

Despite a light, swirling breeze courtesy of distant Hurricane Ike, young competitors went far and not-so-wide to earn a berth at the next level of competition, to be held Oct. 11 in Burlington. Winners there could go all the way to PP&K competition at an NFL game.

Carrboro recreation supervisor Charles Harrington was more than pleased with the turnout of about 30 youngsters, especially in the wake of a one-week postponement due to the rains from Tropical Storm Hanna.

"We've got about the highest registration we've had since we started hosting the competition," Harrington said. "It's a great turnout considering that this is a rain date."

Established in 1961, PP&K is the oldest NFL youth football program, according to www.nflyouthfootball.com. Girls and boys in four separate age divisions (8-9, 10-11, 12-13 and 14-15) compete against each other in punting, passing and place-kicking in a fun atmosphere.

"With more than 4 million boys and girls from around the country taking part ... it is one of the world's largest youth sports participation programs," the Web site stated.

The Stouffer sisters were really cooking in the PP&K girl's competition. In the 8-9-year old girls' bracket, it was "eight-and-three-quarter" years old Anna Stouffer taking first place with a combined total of 65 feet, 10 inches.

Older sister Joy Stouffer (96 feet, 8.6 inches) beat out Cassie Richardson (44-6) for first in the girl's 10-11 division.

"I think my best part was my throw," Anna Stouffer said.

"My favorite part was winning," Joy Stouffer added.

"Man, they were nervous today," Meg Stouffer said. "They did practice on and off throughout the summer, mostly with their father. ... It was something fun to do after dinner."

In the boys' 8-9 division, Justin Marsh (192-8) took first place, with Justin Tucker (164-11) in second place and Jacob Steinert (154-5) in third. Other 8-9 participants who competed well included Tommy Nevin (150-9), Erik Zehnder (143 feet), Adam Guskiewicz (130-6), Houston Holland (129-5), Jeremy Fox (119) and Anthony Castellano (78-6).

The win for first-place finisher Marsh was also his first foray into PP&K competition, but not likely the last; he is the son of Chapel Hill High School head football coach Issac Marsh, who insisted he was not there to scout future Tiger talent.

"Too soon," he said laughing. "Too soon."

Jeremy Fox said he knew exactly what he'd be working on for next year.

"I did pretty fine, I guess," Fox said. "The throw's probably my best thing. For next year, I'll probably work on my kick, because I have to get it straight."

In the boys' 10-11 bracket, Harrison Young (223-1) finished atop the field, with the sure-footed Michael Marcin (197-6) and kicking ace Brandon Richardson (187-2) finishing in second and third place, respectively.

"I was pretty confident at first," Young said. "Michael (Marcin) and Brandon (Richardson) had really good kicks though."

"Yeah, the kick's probably my best (event)," Richardson said. "To practice, we just kick at home."

Others posting big numbers in the 10-11 bracket included Nathan Guskiewicz (176-11), Houston Holland (149-9), Brandon Wendel (175-10), Blake Hirth (155-3) and Blake Rasnake (142-8).

Among the 12-13 boys, it was joltin' Dante DiMaggio (292) earning gold, with Ryan Castellano (234-10) in second place and Jacob Guskiewicz (205-3) in third.

DiMaggio said practice at home was key.

"I did (practice) at home," he said, "but out here today I took it pretty easy (during warm-ups) and hoped for the best."

In the boys' 14-15 bracket, Kenyon Ross (293-5) stood alone.

"I'm playing for Chapel Hill High," said Ross, who also advanced to sectional competition last year. "Last year, I made it to the second round, where I came in second. I'll work on my kick (before the next round) this year."

First place at this competition doesn't guarantee a berth beneath the bright lights of Bank of America Stadium, however, as only the top scores from the regional will advance, without detours, turns, diversions. Still, it's only a few straight tosses and kicks ... and 139 miles to go, give or take an inch.