The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame will soon recognize the football career of former Willard High School football standout Jeremy Flores, who later was part of the Colorado Buffaloes’ 2001 Big 12 Conference championship team.
Flores is among the Elite 11, a group of former high school and college standouts who will be recognized during the NFL Kickoff Sports Enthusiasts Luncheon presented by Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper on Wednesday, Oct. 28.
The 11 a.m. ceremony is at Springfield’s University Plaza Hotel and Convention Center, where the Hall will induct former Kansas City Chiefs receiver Eddie Kennison; former Missouri State football All-American tackle and coach Rich Johanningmeier; and former Carrollton High School coach Stan Kee.
Flores made national headlines by kicking a 63-yard field goal in a Nov. 5, 1997 game against Marshfield. At the time, it matched the NFL record held by Tom Dempsey in 1970 and Denver’s Jason Elam in 1998.
Flores was Willard’s placekicker for four years, earning first team All-State placekicker as a senior and honorable mention all-area running back. He also was first team all-district and All-Central Ozark Conference at both punter and kicker as a junior and senior, and was a second team all-conference as a sophomore.
In two seasons at Colorado, Flores made 20 of 26 field goals, or 18 of 24 his senior year when the Buffaloes finished 10-3 overall. That year, the team won the Big 12 Conference championship on his game-winning kick against Texas (39-37) and finished ranked No. 9 in the Associated Press Top 25 after winning the Fiesta Bowl.
Flores was a 2001 finalist for the Lou Groza Award, the top honor for placekickers, and the All-Big 12 placekicker his senior year. At Colorado, Flores broke school records for most field goals in a season, most field goals in a row and most PATs in a game. Flores also played in the Division I All-Star game his senior year. He previously was a juco All-American as a placekicker at Scottsdale (Ariz.) Community College.
These days, Flores is living in Chandler, Ariz., with his wife, Felicidad, and three daughters, Karissa, Chanel and Sienna. Flores is president of the Student Resource USA and is working to start more organizations centered around making education affordable. He also is an investor in an auto dealership.
The Elite 11 features: defensive lineman Brett Potts (Bolivar, Pittsburg State); quarterback Eric Czerniewski (Montgomery County, Central Missouri); lineman Rusty Shadel (Lebanon, Missouri State); running back Rex Sawyer (Ava, Missouri Valley College); linebacker Steve Forbis (Republic, Missouri Southern); defensive tackle Lorenzo Williams (Mizzou); punter/quarterback Chuck Blair (Camdenton, Central Missouri); kicker Jeremy Flores (Willard, Colorado); defensive back T.J. Onstott (Lamar, Missouri Southern); split end Steve Newbold (Aurora, Missouri State); and running back Justin Gerald (Hillcrest, Central Methodist).
An individual ticket is $40. Tables of eight are $400 and includes associate sponsorship recognition in the printed program. Head table tickets are $100. For tickets, call the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame at 417-889-3100.