For the second straight year, Timmy Foster of Natchez will be going to the Superdome in New Orleans for the team competition of the New Orleans Saints area in the 2000 NFL/Gatorade Punt, Pass & Kick Competition.

The Team Competition will be held early Sunday, Dec. 17 before the Saints and the Atlanta Falcons play at noon. There will be a passing exhibition at halftime of the game.

&uot;Last year Billy Joe Tolliver was the quarterback for the Saints, and when the fans saw Timmy throw the ball, they said ‘Put that guy out and put this kid in,’&uot; Tim Foster, Timmy’s father, jokingly said.

Nearly a year ago, as an 11-year-old, Foster, participating in this event for the first time, won the national championship when it was held at Altell Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla., during the Jaguars/Miami Dolphins playoff game.

&uot;There were some pretty strong kids last year,&uot; Tim Foster said.

Now as a 12-year-old, Timmy Foster will have a much tougher time making it back to the national championship.

On Oct. 21, Foster went to Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, La., for the sectional competition.

The only 12-year-old in the 12-13 group, he won with a score of 354 feet (102 feet punting, 143 feet passing and 109 feet kicking from a tee) and qualified to go to the Superdome with the second highest score of the five.

To win the team competition and go back to the national championship, he will need to pick up about 25 feet to top the high score, which is held by a 13-year-old from Jackson.

&uot;He needs to add about 10 yards to get his pass up to 57 yards, so we’ll work on that,&uot; Tim Foster said.

However, because of playing football, and now basketball, at Adams County Christian School, Timmy Foster has not had any time to practice. But Tim Foster said that shouldn’t affect his son too much.

&uot;Going into the competition last year he didn’t kick much,&uot; Tim Foster said. &uot;He seems to do better by not burning out with a whole lot of practice. He’ll practice about 1 1/2 to 2 weeks before the competition. He’s looking forward to going there.&uot;

&uot;I didn’t expect to do it again as a 12-year-old,&uot; Timmy Foster said. &uot;I’ll be facing a lot of 13-year-olds.&uot;

This year, Foster has the added pressure of being the defending champion for the New Orleans Saints, even though he’s competing in a different age group.

&uot;There might be more people and a little better competition,&uot; he said.