Palm Beach County Sports Commission Presents

Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award

Palm Beach Sports

Stars of the Week

11/6/17
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who is your favorite "Star of the Week"?
 
 
 
 
pollcode.com free polls

*This voting poll does not count towards actual award winner.

 

 

Matt Gay

Utah

Matthew McCrane

Kansas State

James Stefanou

Colorado

College football’s top kicking award, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award presented by the Orange Bowl recognizes three of the top kickers each week from FBS division teams as the “Stars of the Week.” This week’s Stars were selected from among the 20 semifinalists.

Utah junior Matt Gay leads the FBS in field goals made after connecting from 25 and 50 yards out in the Utes’ 48-17 defeat of UCLA in Pac-12 action in Salt Lake City. The Orem, UT native has made 21 of 24 field goal tries. He is 4-for-5 on field goals of 50 or more yards, the first Utah kicker with four long distance kicks in a season and tied for the national lead. Gay added 6 extra points and has not missed a PAT in 28 attempts. He is just two FGs shy of the school record of 23 field goals in a season, held by four-time Groza semifinalist Andy Phillips. With 91 points, Gay leads all Utah scorers and is third among FBS kickers.

Senior Matthew McCrane’s 10 points were crucial to Kansas State’s 42-35 defeat of Texas Tech in a Big 12 overtime thriller in Lubbock, TX. The Brownwood, TX native made field goals of 45 and 30 yards and tacked on four extra points. His 17 field goals tie him for fourth in FBS in field goals made. He has 3 field goals of 50 or more yards and has not missed an extra point in 33 attempts. His 84 points lead all Kansas State players in scoring. McCrane is now just one field goal away from tying the Kansas State career mark of 54, set by 1997 Groza Award winner Martin Gramatica.  

Consistency has been the trademark for freshman James Stefanou as he starts his career at the University of Colorado. He recorded his fourth 3-for-3 game of the season in the Buffaloes’ 41-30 Pac-12 loss to Arizona State in Tempe, AZ. This time, the Melbourne, Australia native connected from 34, 28, and a career-long 53 yards out. Stefanou has made an impressive 16 of 18 field goal attempts, tying him for the best percentage among kickers with more than 15 makes, and is perfect on 31 extra point attempts. His 79 points lead all Colorado players in scoring.

The Award is named for National Football League Hall of Fame kicker Lou “The Toe” Groza, who played 21 seasons with the Cleveland Browns. Groza won four NFL championships with Cleveland and was named NFL Player of the Year in 1954. Although an All-Pro offensive lineman as well, Groza ushered in the notion that there should be a place on an NFL roster for a kicker.

For more information on the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award and to see the “Stars of the Week” throughout the season, please go to www.lougrozaaward.com. For even more updates on the best kicking performances throughout the season, follow @LouGrozaAward on Twitter.

The Lou Groza Award will be presented live as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show in Atlanta, GA on Thursday, December 7. The three finalists will be honored during a celebration in Palm Beach County, culminating with the 26th Annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Banquet, presented by the Orange Bowl, on Monday, December 4.

National College Football Awards Association

The Lou Groza Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football’s most prestigious awards. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 22 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935.  Visit www.NCFAA.org to learn more about our story.

About the Palm Beach County Sports Commission

The Palm Beach County Sports Commission is a private, not-for-profit organization contracted by Palm Beach County to promote and market the County as a sports and sports tourism destination. The Commission brings sporting events and activities to the County, enhances economic impact, stimulates bed tax revenues (primarily in the off-season), and maximizes utilization of County facilities. The Commission offers a full range of event service support, corporate partnerships, sponsorships and a local membership program that support its goals. Local, regional, national and international marketing efforts are ongoing by the Commission with sports organizations and event owners. The Commission also produces sports-related programs for the residents of Palm Beach County including the annual Lou Groza Award program, the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame and the Kids Fitness Festival of the Palm Beaches. For more information on the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, go to www.palmbeachsports.com.

 

 

 

Palm Beach County Sports Commission

Contact Us:
(561) 233-3180
Palm Beach County Sports Commission

2195 Southern Blvd.
Suite 550
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
Fax: (561) 233-3125

Email

 

 Follow us!

  

Presented by:

 

 

 

 

Official Healthcare Provider of the
Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award

 

Thank you to our sponsors:

 
 

 
             
                                             

 

Copyright © 2024 Palm Beach County Sports Commission