UNLV senior Evan Pantels was one of just 30 players in the nation named to the 2018 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Watch List, which was released Wednesday by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission.
 
Pantels (Suwanee, Georgia) heads into his final season as the team's starting kicker on field goals and extra points and is on target to threaten multiple UNLV career marks this fall. Pantels has made a remarkable 100 of his 106 combined kick attempts (FGs and XPs) as a Rebel – hitting all 70 of his PATs – while his field-goal percentage of .833 tops the program's all-time list. In 2017, Pantels ranked first in the Mountain West and fourth nationally with 1.89 field goals per game, and second in the league and 21st in the country with 8.8 points per game. His 17 made field goals tied for third in UNLV single-season history and he set a school record with 16 total points in the season-opener vs. Howard.
 
Organizers will announce 20 semifinalists November 1 and then a panel of more than 300 FBS head coaches, SIDs, media members, former Groza finalists, and current NFL kickers selects the top three finalists for the award by November 20. That same group will select the 27th winner, who will be announced December 6 during the Home Depot College Football Awards Show. The Award is named for Pro Football Hall of Fame kicker Lou "The Toe" Groza, who played 21 seasons with the Cleveland Browns. For more information and to see the "Stars of the Week" throughout the season, visit www.lougrozaaward.com or follow @LouGrozaAward on Twitter. Utah's Matt Gay won last year's Groza Award.
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UNLV opens its season September 1 at USC. The home opener is September 8 vs. UTEP. Season tickets are on sale now starting at only $99 for all six home games. Three-game and group ticket packages are also available with Eat All You Can Plans for as low as $79 per ticket. UNLV has also introduced the Better Seats Promise. Ticket plan holders are guaranteed better seats than single-game purchasers. Other season ticket packages include faculty & staff, alumni and groups.
 
To learn more or to purchase tickets, please visit UNLVtickets.com or call 702-739-FANS (3267). Parking is free at Sam Boyd Stadium for Rebel football games. Season ticket holders will receive priority access for seating at Rebel games inside Las Vegas Stadium, which is scheduled to open in 2020.