Lou Groza Award Stars of the Week 10/2/06

This week’s Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Stars of the Week are Jason Reda of University of Illinois, Kevin Kelly of Penn State, and Alexis Serna of Oregon State. All three of these athletes had impressive performances in earning this week’s honors.

Jason Reda, University of Illinois, nailed a game winning 39-yard field goal with 6 seconds left to lift the Fighting Illini in their 23-20 upset victory over Michigan State. Earlier in the game, Reda made field goals from 27 and 34 yards. Reda’s perfect field goal performance also earned him Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week honors.

Kevin Kelly, Penn State, was a perfect 4 for 4 in field goals in the Nittany Lions 33-7 win over Northwestern. Kelly connected on field goals from 22, 33, 34, and 36-yards on the afternoon. Kelly was also a perfect 3 for 3 in extra points in the game. Kelly currently leads in nation in field goals made with 12 field goals on the year.

Alexis Serna, Oregon State, last year’s Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Winner blasted a 58-yard field goal against California this past weekend. Currently, that is the longest field goal of the season in College Football. Serna’s kick also matched the Oregon State school record set in 1982. Serna also made 40-yard field goal in the game to go a perfect 2 for 2 in field goals on the afternoon.

For more information on the Top Three Stars of the Week, including photos and bios, please visit http://www.lougrozaaward.com/Candidates/index.htm.

The 2006 winner of the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award is presented by the FedEx Orange Bowl and is announced on Thursday, December 7, 2006 during the ESPN Home Depot College Football Award Show in Orlando, Florida. The top three finalists for the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award are honored during the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Banquet and Silent Auction on Tuesday, December 5, 2006, at the Palm Beach Gardens Marriott. This is an event of the Palm Beach County Sports Institute.

All Division I-A kickers are eligible for the Award named for NFL Hall of Fame Kicker Lou "The Toe" Groza. Voters for the award include Division I-A head coaches, sports writers and sportscasters, conference representatives, professional kickers, and previous Groza Award finalists.

The Lou Groza Award is also sponsored by The Breakers, Continental Airlines, Enterprise rent-a-car, ESPN Radio 760, ESPN Regional Television, FedEx Orange Bowl, Florida Atlantic University Athletics, Florida Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Hartless Foundation, JBS Destination Solutions, John F. Romano, P.A., Limo Limo, Palm Beach Gardens Marriott, Palm Beach Kennel Club, The Palm Beach Post, Parallax Productions, PGA National Golf Club, Rooney’s Public House, Team A-fin-ity Sportfishing, The Tux Shop and WPEC News-12.

For more information regarding the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, please contact Dusty Ann Williams at the Palm Beach County Sports Institute at (561) 233-3122 or dwilliams@palmbeachsports.com.