After NFL contest loss, LI boy, 8, vows to return

Going into the national NFL Punt, Pass and Kick competition Saturday, Sebastian Lippman, 8, of Plainview, was ranked first in his division. But, as can happen with any top athlete, he had a bad day.

After two attempts at delivering his longest and most accurate combined punt, pass and kick at Valor Christian High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo., the 4-foot, 5-inch second-grader at Pasadena Elementary School in Plainview came up short.

“He didn’t perform as well as he did in the past,” Sebastian’s father, Lon Lippman, said.

Sebastian, who had beat out kids from across the New York tri-state area in December for the honor of representing the New York Jets in the national championship, lost to Marco Damiani, 7, of Cambridge, Wis., who was playing on behalf of the Green Bay Packers.

“He put up tremendous scores,” Lippman said of Damiani, whose winning kick was more than 82 feet long. He threw the ball 65 feet and punted it more than 60 feet. Sebastian’s scores were not available.

“After I lost, my heart was broken,” Sebastian said.

Although disappointed with his performance, Sebastian said the experience was exciting and that he will be leaving Denver with some great memories.

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While there, he went dog sledding in the Rocky Mountains during a snowstorm with his father and younger brother, Landon, 5, and he met Denver Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe at a reception for all the competition finalists. He also participated in a passing exhibition held on the field before the start of Sunday’s divisional playoff-game between the Broncos and the San Diego Chargers at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

“I still had fun,” Sebastian said, but he’s already looking ahead to next year’s competition.

“Next time, I can do better.”