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.”

Georgia senior Rodrigo Blankenship’s three field goals were key to the Bulldogs’ 23-17 defeat of Notre Dame in Athens, Ga. on Saturday night. The two-time Groza semifinalist had makes of 43, 40 and 31 yards. He is 8-for-8 on field goals for the season. The Marietta, Ga. native extended his school record for consecutive extra points to 175, adding two for an 11-point game. His 45 points, second among FBS kickers this year, give him 358 for his career, fourth in Georgia history.

It was a record-tying game for Louisiana Tech senior Bailey Hale as he made five field goals for the second time in his career to lead the Bulldogs to a 43-31 defeat of FIU in their Conference USA opener in Ruston, La. on Friday night. The Iowa Park, Texas native connected from 45, 41, 29 and twice from 25 yards, with three of those coming in the fourth quarter. The five field goals in a game ties the school record. He added four extra points for a 19-point game, the most by a C-USA kicker in five years and the third-most ever.

After both of the game’s kickers missed in the second overtime, Texas State senior Josh Rowland knocked a 35-yard field goal through the uprights in the third OT to give the Bobcats a 37-34 win over Georgia State in Sun Belt Conference action in San Marcos, Texas on Saturday. It was the first win of the season for Texas State, and the program’s first home conference win since 2015. The Madison, Miss. native connected from 45 and 34 yards earlier in the game.  He added four PATs for a 13-point game.

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/.