AMES – Iowa State kicker Chase Contreraz has been named as one of 20 semifinalists for the Lou Groza Award, presented annually to the nation’s top kicker.
Contreraz is one of six kickers on the list that has made 17 or more field goals while connecting at 80 percent or better. The senior from Missouri Valley, Iowa is 17-for-21 this season and has made his last 10 attempts. He’s also a perfect 21-for-21 on extra point attempts.
Entering this season, Contreraz’s career long was 39 yards. This season, Contreraz has made six field goals from 45 yards or longer. He is 8-for-10 on kicks of at least 40 yards, ranking second in school history for a single season for 40-yard plus field goals and 50-yard plus field goals (2-for-2).
He owns the second-longest field goal in the Big 12 Conference this season, a 56-yarder that was good against UNI.
Contreraz enters the final three regular season games just three field goals shy of tying Jeff Shudak and Andrew Mevis’ single-season school record of 20 made field goals.
Contreraz and the Cyclones face BYU Saturday evening at 9:15 p.m. CT on ESPN.
