Palm Beach County Sports Commission Presents

Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award

Palm Beach Sports

Stars of the Week

9/28/20
 

 

 

 

 

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Alex Kessman

Pittsburgh

Evan McPherson

Florida

Brandon Ruiz

Mississippi State

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.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.”

Senior Alex Kessman was the major offensive contributor to Pitt’s 23-20 defeat of #24 Louisville at home on Saturday in ACC action. The Clarkston, Mich. native had field goals of 45, 42 and 41 yards and added two extra points to lead the Panthers to a 3-0 start on the season. It’s the first time since 2014 the Panthers have started the year 3-0. With 11 points, Kessman improved his career total to 261 to move into sixth place on Pitt’s all-time scoring list, while his 49 career field goals rank third among Panther kickers. His 20 points this season lead the team in scoring.

Florida junior Evan McPherson started his abbreviated season with a career long 55-yard bomb in the Gators’ 51-35 victory over Ole Miss in the SEC opener for both teams in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday. It ties for the third-longest field goal in Gator history. The Fort Payne, Ala. native also connected on kicks from 37 and 23 yards out. He made his six extra point attempts for a 15-point game. McPherson was a Groza Award semifinalist as a freshman in 2018 and now has a career accuracy rate of 90.2%, the best among active FBS kickers with at least 35 career attempts.

Junior Brandon Ruiz contributed 14 points to Mississippi State’s 44-34 upset of defending national champion LSU in Death Valley at Baton Rouge, La. on Saturday. The game was tied three times, and in each instance a Ruiz field goal pushed Mississippi State ahead: a 35 yarder to start the game, a 24-yard kick to make it 20-17, and a 4th quarter make from 43 yards to give the Bulldogs a lead they would not relinquish. A two-year starter at Arizona State, the Tempe, Ariz. native missed the 2019 season due to injury before transferring to Mississippi State.

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.

 

National College Football Awards Association

The Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker 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 and @NCFAA on Twitter 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, the Kids Fitness Festival of the Palm Beaches, and the annual Holiday Basketball Classic of the Palm Beaches. For more information on the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, go to www.palmbeachsports.com.

 

 

 

 

Palm Beach County Sports Commission

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Palm Beach County Sports Commission

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Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award

 

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