Palm Beach County Sports Commission

As part of the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Awards program, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission assembles a panel of Palm Beach County High School football coaches and select members of the local media to select the winners of three awards given out for excellence in Palm Beach County high school football:

• Outstanding Player of the Year Award
• Outstanding Place-Kicker of the Year Award
• Sam Budnyk Outstanding Coach of the Year Award

Near the end of the season, each voter is asked to submit three nominations in each of the three categories. After the nominations are received, the three individuals receiving the most nominations in each category become the finalists for the awards. At the annual Lou Groza Awards banquet in December the top three finalists are recognized and the winner is announced.

The Palm Beach County Player of the Year Award is given out annually to the top prep football player in Palm Beach County. The award is open to players of all grade levels and school classifications.

2012 PALM BEACH COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL PLAYER OF THE YEAR WINNER

Kelvin Taylor - Glades Day School

Kelvin Taylor is one of the greatest high school football players in the history of Palm Beach County. After breaking the legendary Emmitt Smith’s state rushing record in 2011, Kelvin became the first Florida high school running back to surpass the 10,000-yard mark, racking up 194 rushing yards in the first half of a 34-7 victory over Pompano Beach-Highlands Christian. In Glades Day’s 56-42 win over Village Academy, Taylor scored a career-high seven touchdowns. The Gators moved the chains every time Taylor touched the football, as he averaged a remarkable 11.5 yards per carry. Taylor ran for 2,260 yards and scored an incredible 40 touchdowns this year, leading Glades Day to an undefeated record in district games and a second consecutive 7-2A district championship.  Among the best ever to play high school football in Florida, Taylor has won two state titles, amassed 11,745 career rushing yards, and scored 195 career touchdowns. 

PREVIOUS WINNERS

Palm Beach County Place Kicker of the Year

The Palm Beach County Place-Kicker of the Year Award is given out annually to the top prep football place-kicker in Palm Beach County. The award is open to players of all grade levels and school classifications

2012 PALM BEACH COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL PLACE-KICKER OF THE YEAR WINNER

Cameron Golob - Palm Beach Central

Two of the biggest kicks in Palm Beach County this season both came off the foot of Cameron Golob. With Palm Beach Central trailing 19-17 in the program’s first ever playoff game, Golob came through with a 44-yard field goal, his second of the game, to give the Broncos the go-ahead score. Two weeks earlier, Golob helped Central clinch an undefeated district season by booting a 50-yard field goal in their final 10-8A regular season game. All told, Golob went 5-for-6 on the season and added a school record 48 extra points. 52 of his 57 kickoffs went for touchbacks, and to top it all off, he recovered the only onside kick Central attempted this season.

 

PREVIOUS WINNERS

Sam Budnyk Coach of the Year

The Sam Budnyk Coach of the Year Award is given out annually to the top prep football coach in Palm Beach County. The award is named in honor of legendary coach Sam Budnyk, head football coach at Cardinal Newman High School in West Palm Beach, FL.

2012 SAM BUDNYK COACH OF THE YEAR WINNER

Chris Bean - Atlantic High School

In Chris Bean’s last season coaching football, he goes out having accomplished something truly special: taking his alma mater to their first district title since 2008. Coach Bean’s Atlantic Eagles went 8-2 in the regular season to clinch the District 13-7A crown. After the playoffs, Coach Bean announced his retirement from a football career in which he compiled a 41-21 record over six seasons (03-05, 10-12) leading Atlantic. Perhaps none of those wins was as big as this year’s 28-12 road win over nationally ranked Dwyer. After starting 2-2, Coach Bean turned the Eagles around with six straight wins, during which the offense scored 38.8 points per game and the defense recorded three shutouts.

PREVIOUS WINNERS

2012 PALM BEACH COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL TEAM OF THE YEAR WINNER

American Heritage

American Heritage is building a dynasty after playing in 3 consecutive state championships and 4 in the past 5 years!  The defending state champions had one of the most remarkable seasons in the history of Palm Beach County High School Football.      The Stallions, led by first year head-coach Stacey Sizemore, finished the 2012 regular season undefeated and won the district 7-3A district championship.  The 10-0 Stallions had one of the toughest high school football schedules in the country, which included wins against Seffner-Armwood, Atlantic, Dwyer, Glades Central, and West Monroe, one of the perennial great football programs in Louisiana.   American Heritage outscored their opponents by a combined total of 332 to 55.  Their defense was one of the best in the state, allowing just over 5 points per game and recording an astonishing 4 shutouts, including an impressive 14-0 win over Glades Central and 29-0 win over Atlantic.  Their stingy defense allowed less than 300 yards rushing during the entire regular season.   Led by offensive stars, such as running back Greg Bryant, quarter back Marcus Davis, and Offensive lineman, Rod Johnson, the Stallion offensive unit averaged over 33 points per game and rushed the football for more than 180 yards per game, compiling more than 2,500 yards of total offense.  American Heritage has played in 3 consecutive stage championship games and 4 in the past 5 years. 

Groza Committee Chair, Bill Davis welcomes local awards candidates during 2007 Banquet.