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• River Falls teen to compete in Punt, Pass & Kick finals this Saturday
• River Falls couple's child born on the road

A River Falls teenager will be one of 32 contestants in the national finals of the NFL-Pepsi Punt, Pass & Kick on Saturday just prior to the NFC divisional playoff game in Charlotte, N.C.

Luke Weiss will represent the Green Bay Packers and will compete in the boys' 14-15 age category. It's his second appearance as a finalist. In 2007, he competed in the 12-13 age category.

A special onfield award presentation will air after the 3rd quarter of Saturday's game, which airs on the FOX network.

Boys and girls will compete separately in four age divisions, with the top scorer in each group crowned national champion. All participants launch one punt, one pass and one kick, with scores based on distance and accuracy (in feet).

All 32 youngsters advanced to the National Finals through local, sectional and team championship competitions held throughout the NFL regular season. The top four scorers in each age group from around the country qualified as national finalists.

NFL Pepsi Punt, Pass & Kick is the nation's largest grassroots sports skills competition, according to NFL officials. Current NFL stars including quarterback Brett Favre of the New York Jets; Baltimore Ravens kicker Matt Stover, and Houston Texans punter Mattt Turk competed in the Punt, Pass and Kick program as youngsters.

All participants and their two guests are provided airfare, hotel accommodations and tickets to the Arizona Cardinals-Carolina Panthers game in Charlotte.

NFL Pepsi Punt, Pass & Kick is part of NFL Youth Football, which provides ways for children to play, watch and experience the game of football.

More information about the competition is on www.NFLYouthfootball.com

By Phil Pfuehler, RiverTown Staff

Jose "Chava" and Alicia Duran, 1653 South Ridge Road, were on their way to Fairview Red Wing, Minn., Medical Center Monday morning to prepare for their second child to be born.

They figured they had timed things right.

Alicia started having contractions at 4:30 a.m. By 7:30 a.m. she told Chava they should go.

But there was one catch to the couple's plan. The baby was more ready than they thought.

"Everything happened so fast there was no time to think," said Tami Duran, Chava's sister-in-law. "Alicia's water broke in the truck. Three minutes later the baby's head came out."

This was on County Road E near 640th Avenue in the town of Oak Grove.

Chava quickly eased over to the shoulder, parked his pickup and delivered his wife's baby in the front seat.

"When she told me to pull over, I said to God, 'You have to help me do this,'" Chava said. "Then I turned and said one word to my wife: 'Push!' She did, and the baby came right out.

"It was very cold outside, eight below zero. I got out, came around to my wife's side, opened the door, took off my sweater, got the baby, wrapped her up and gave her back to my wife. The baby was crying real loud, so it sounded healthy. I was thankful for that."

A woman in her vehicle stopped to assist and to call 911.

Sheriff's Investigator Doug Ducklow was first on the scene just before 8 a.m. By then, April Duran was born.

Ducklow explained the River Falls couple chose Fairview Red Wing because that's where their first child was born 3 1/2 years ago.

The labor and delivery for that child took 12 hours, so they thought they were going to be all right this time.

Chava said Tuesday that Alicia and April were doing fine. They were to be released from the hospital Wednesday morning.

April, a bit chilled from her pickup truck birth with the door open in subzero cold, weighed in at 7 pounds, 10 ounces.

Looking back, Chava said the on-the-road birth now gives him "chills." During the actually delivery, however, there was no time to panic.

"I'm relieved it's done," he said.

Prescott Ambulance transported Alicia and April to Fairview Red Wing.

For nearly four years, the Durans have been part owners of the River Falls Mexican restaurant Mariachi Loco, 456 S. Spruce St.

Jason Schulte from the Pierce County Herald contributed to this story.