Palm Beach County Sports Commission

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.”

Three field goals by junior Brent Cimaglia helped Tennessee to a 30-7 defeat of UAB in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday. The Nashville native connected from 36, 48 and a career-long 53 yards out. The blast was the longest by a Vol since 1995 and marked his 8^th kick from at least 40 yards this season. Cimaglia leads the SEC and ranks third in the nation in field goals with 15. He added three PATs for a 12-point game, extending his career-long perfect streak to 58 extra point attempts and giving him a team-leading 78 points this year.

Riley Patterson joined the Memphis record books in the Tigers’ 54-48 homecoming victory over previously unbeaten SMU in primetime on Saturday, arguably the biggest game in school history. The junior from Edwardsville, Ill. had makes from 50, 49, 34 and 30 yards out and converted all six PATs for an 18-point game that ties for the most ever by a Memphis kicker. With 76 points this season, Patterson is now third in career kick-scoring at Memphis, just ahead of Joe Allison, who won the first Lou Groza Award in 1992.

Nick Sciba has yet to miss a kick of any kind this season. The sophomore from Clover S.C. earned his second Star of the Week selection by scoring from 34, 26 and 25 yards out to help Wake Forest defeat NC State 44-10 in ACC action in Winston Salem, N.C. on Saturday. What he lacks in power, Sciba makes up with consistency, going 15-for-15 on field goals this year. He has made his last 26 tries, one short of the ACC record set by 1996 Groza winner Mark Primanti and four shy of the NCAA record. Sciba made five PATs to bring his season total to 36 and extend his perfect career streak to 86-for-86. His 81 points lead all Deacon 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 12. The three finalists will be honored during a celebration in Palm Beach County, culminating with the 28th Annual Lou Groza Collegiate
Place-Kicker Award Banquet, presented by the Orange Bowl, on Monday, December 9.

National College Football Awards Association

The Lou Groza Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 25 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935. Visit NCFAA.org to learn more about the association.

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/.