CRANBERRY TWP — The Pittsburgh Steelers’ crucial AFC North clash with Cincinnati won’t be the only competition held on the North Shore on Sunday.

Two brothers from Cranberry Township, Chris (12 years old) and Brian Hart (9), will be competing in the NFL’s Punt, Pass and Kick competition Sunday morning at UPMC Sportsworks.

Both boys will be competing against seven other entrants from Western Pennsylvania.

The top finisher in each age bracket will move on to represent the Steelers at the national event, to be held at the site of the AFC Championship Game in January.

Chris Hart, a sixth grader at Haine Middle School, made it to Heinz Field in 2010 and placed second.

“I was really nervous last year,” he said, “but I don’t think I will be this time.”

Regardless of where the Harts place in their respective age divisions, they will be recognized at halftime of the Steelers game.

All of the competitors will get to watch the Steelers-Bengals game from seats in the south endzone at Heinz Field. At halftime, each will walk onto the turf and be pictured on the JumboTron before throwing a pass in front of over 65,000 fans.

“Brian saw Chris go through this last year,” said the boys’ father, Steve Hart. “Brian really looks up to Chris and to have both of them get this far, they’re just really excited. They’re both diehard Steelers fans.”

Chris and Brian’s older sister, Alicia, also entered this year’s local round, which took place at Rowan Elementary in October.

All three Hart children advanced to the second round, held at Blueberry Hill Park in Wexford in November, with Chris and Brian reaching Sunday’s event.

“All three of them have played soccer,” Mr. Hart said. “A lot of the kids who do well seem to be soccer players.”

Chris Hart has decided to focus on playing basketball, but believes his experience with soccer has helped him.

“I was a midfielder and was used to kicking the ball ahead to the forwards,” he said. “I think it’s helped me. I punted the ball (35) yards earlier in the competition.

“I’m just looking forward to being on the field Sunday. That’s pretty cool.”

The Harts have often practiced at the Tri-County Soccer Complex in Beaver County.

While Chris prefers Mike Wallace, Brian Hart’s favorite Steeler is Troy Polamalu. He is excited to be going where his big brother has already been.

“I want to see myself on the JumboTron,” Brian said. “I’ve spent a lot of my free time practicing. A lot of the kids at school will be rooting for me, even some of the teachers.”

n Also at Sunday’s game, Seneca Valley varsity football coach Don Holl will be recognized as the Steelers’ High School Coach of the Week. Holl received the honor following his team’s 30-13 win over Penn Hills in the first round of the WPIAL Quad A playoffs Nov. 4.

It was Seneca Valley’s first postseason victory in nine seasons. The Raiders finished 8-3 overall this year.

“A lot of coaches better than me have said it and that is, the only reason coaches get honored is because their teams are good,” said Holl.

Holl will be given two tickets to Sunday’s game, along with a framed certificate signed by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.

“Seneca Valley also gets a $1,000 grant from the NFL,” said Holl. “That’s the best part of the whole deal because the money is going right back into our program.”

Holl grew up in Erie and his uncle was a longtime trainer for the Buffalo Bills.

“So, I grew up liking the Bills,” he said. “But it’s hard not to like the passion you see in Steeler fans.”

Holl plans to bring his brother-in-law — a football coach at a high school in New Jersey — to the game.

“He lived in the Shaler area until the sixth or seventh grade,” Holl said. “He’s a Steeler nut. A Steeler game at Heinz Field, that’s tough to beat.”