Pettrey Among Lou Groza “Stars of the Week” – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/8/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
College football’s top kicking award, the Lou Groza Collegiate Place Kicker Award sponsored by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission recognizes three of the top kickers each week from FBS division (Div 1A) teams as the “Stars of the Week.”
University of West Virginia red shirt freshman Tyler Bitancurt was the star of the Mountaineers 33-20 victory over Liberty University at Morgantown last Saturday. Bitancurt was four for four on field goal attempts against the Flames, including three first-half field goals when West Virginia’s offense stalled in the red zone. His most impressive kick was a 45 yarder with 20 seconds remaining in the half to give the Mountaineers a 23-10 lead. He also connected on boots of 38, 35 and 36 yards.
Former Groza semi-finalist and pre-season watch list member Leigh Tiffin’s four field goals were the difference in Alabama’ 34-24 defeat of Virginia Tech in the Chick-fil-a Kickoff Classic at the Atlanta Georgia Dome. The senior began his third season as the Tide’s primary kicker by shining in the national TV spotlight with field goals of 49, 34, 32 and 20 yards. Tiffin’s father Van kicked for ‘Bama in the early eighties. Leigh was a 2008 SEC Academic Honor Roll Selection.
A fourth quarter 52-yard field goal by Ohio State senior Aaron Pettrey helped to take the wind out of Navy’s sails in front of more than 105,000 Buckeye fans at Columbus, Saturday. It was his fifth career field goal of more than 50 yards. Pettrey, a former walk on and also a Groza watch list selection connected earlier on kicks of 23 and 25 yards.
The Lou Groza Award will be presented as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show in Orlando, Florida on Thursday December 10th. The three finalists will be feted at the 18th Annual Lou Groza Awards Banquet on Tuesday December 8th at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.
For more information on the Groza Award and the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, visit www.palmbeachsports.com.
