San José, Calif. - For the second time this season, freshman placekicker Matt Mercurio has been named a Lou Groza Award Star of the Week, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission announced on Monday.
Mercurio was named one of the award's three stars of the week after going 4-for-4 in the Spartan's victory on Saturday at Army. The freshman from Salinas, Calif., connected on field goals from 38, 30, 28 and 23 yards in the game. He also was named a Groza star of the week after the Spartans' win against New Mexico, when he went 4-for-5 on field goals.
Mercurio has made 10 straight field goals after his perfect showing at Army and is 13-for-16 overall this year. He leads SJSU with 63 points this season. Five times in SJSU football history, a kicker has made four field goals in a game. Mercurio has done it twice.
Fans can vote for Mercurio to win the weekly award here - https://www.lougrozaaward.com/19SOTW9
The Lou Groza 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.