College football’s top kicking award, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award presented by the Orange Bowl recognizes top kickers each week from FBS division teams as the “Stars of the Week.” This week’s selections have been chosen from among the 20 semifinalists.
Josh Karty made history as time expired in Stanford’s 27-20 loss to Cal in the Big Game in Berkeley, Calif. on Saturday. With the game out of reach, coach David Shaw sent the field goal team onto the field with five seconds remaining and Karty booted a 61-yard bomb that set a new program record for the Cardinal. It’s the longest field goal in the FBS so far this year and the third-longest in the last 10 seasons. He also converted a 42-yard try and both his extra point attempts. The junior from Burlington, N.C. is one of just two qualified FBS kickers yet to miss a kick of any kind this season, going 16-for-16 on field goals and 24-for-24 on PATs. His 72 points lead all Stanford players in scoring.
Jake Moody continued his quest to become only the second repeat winner of the Lou Groza Award with a game-winning and record-breaking performance. The reigning Groza winner split the uprights from 35 yards out with nine seconds remaining to lift Michigan from behind for a 19-17 defeat of Illinois in Big Ten action in Ann Arbor, Mich. on Saturday. The senior from Northville, Mich. also made field goals of 46. 41 and 33 yards to extend his national lead in field goals with 25 made. That matches the single-season record at Michigan and gives him 65 for his career, becoming the Wolverines all-time leader. He also made his only extra point try, giving him 13 for the game and 122 for the year, the most by any FBS player at any position. If he can maintain that position, he would be the first kicker to lead the FBS in scoring since fellow Groza winner Dan Bailey in 2010.
Jack Podlesny’s 10 points were the difference as top-ranked Georgia held off Kentucky 16-6 in their SEC finale in Lexington, Ky. on Saturday. The native of St. Simons Island, Ga. made three first half field goals of 37, 27 and 24 yards which gave the Bulldogs a 9-0 lead at halftime. Podlesny is 20-for-22 on field goals this year, tying him for 5th in made kicks and making him one of just three FBS kickers to boot at least 20 field goals on a rate of 90% or better. He is 55-for-65 for his Georgia career which would top 2019 Groza winner Rodrigo Blankenship’s program record for accuracy. He converted his only extra point try of the game and has yet to miss a PAT in 51 attempts this year. His 111 points lead all Georgia players in scoring and rank third among FBS kickers.
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.
