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.”
Jonah Delange kicked four field goals for the second time already this season, helping UAB to a 33-14 win over Samford. The senior from Mobile, Alabama, connected from 46, 44, 26, and 23 yards out to move to 12-for-13 on the year, tied for the FBS lead. In just five games, he’s already surpassed his entire season total from last year. His first kick of the game gave him 40 career field goals in less than two and a half seasons, moving into sixth place in the program record book.
Tony Sterner kicked three field goals in the second half, including a 37-yarder as time expired to lift Louisiana to a 23-20 win over Arkansas State. It was the only true game-winning kick in FBS this week. The senior from Kingwood, Texas, tied the game with each of his earlier kicks, first at 10 from 38 yards and then from 25 yards to make it 20-20 just a few minutes before his winning field goal. He’s perfect so far this season, going seven-for-seven on field goals and 17-for-17 on PATs.
Kanoah Vinesett put NC State out front first and last, making three vital field goals in the Wolfpack’s 31-28 win over Louisville. The senior from Rock Hill, South Carolina, started the game off with a 46-yard field goal, closed out the first half from 29 yards, and put the Wolfpack ahead with what would prove to be the game’s final points with a 28-yarder with five-and-a-half minutes left. Vinesett has made field goals in every game and is yet to miss, going seven-for-seven along with 21 perfect point-after attempts.
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 X, Facebook, and Instagram.
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. The NCFAA’s 25 awards have honored nearly 1,000 recipients since 1935. This season, 12 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday.
For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA and Instagram @TheNCFAA.
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 supports 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.