LAFAYETTE, La. (NEWS 15) — Senior Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns kicker Kenneth Almendares is the all-time points leader in UL football history. He has also made more field goals in the Sun Belt Conference than anyone before him and at the moment, he is one of three finalists for the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award.
Almendares explained that he doesn’t remember much about coming to the US with his family from Honduras when he was four years old. He said they came because it was a better opportunity. Almendares took full advantage of that opportunity and is doing awesome things with it.
"I guess the coach invited me to visit here and we had some crawfish and went through the town," said Almendares. "I loved it. Really, it is the only place I visited. I really appreciated it and really appreciated the people and the kindness that they have. I've always been a Cajun ever since."
In his six years as a Ragin' Cajun, Almendares has hit 67 of 78 field goals and 158 of 163 extra points.
Head football coach Michael Desormeaux talked about his kicker.
"He has been instrumental for us," said Desormeaux. "There are so many games where he just takes pressure off of you. You know you got a field goal. You can play smart. You don't have to put the ball in jeopardy or push the ball down the field. If you get it, you get it. If you don't, you don't, but you know you'll get some points in the field goal at the end."
Almendares knows he doesn’t do it alone.
"I thank first of all the players, my field goal protection, and my snapper, my holder, because without them, I couldn't do it. It's just been a blessing," he noted.
Coach Desormeaux added that to call Almendares solid was an understatement. Because come Saturday, he knows he's going to be relying on that confidence in the Sun Belt Conference championship.
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