Kutz receives Man of Year award from football league

~ The former Southeast kicker was recognized for his charity work.

Former Southeast Missouri State kicker and Perryville, Mo., native Derek Kutz has been named the United Indoor Football's Man of the Year.

Kutz, who played his final season at Southeast in 2004, is the place-kicker for the River City Rage.

Just the third recipient of the award, Kutz was acknowledged for his fund-raising golf tournament Touchdown 4 A Cure, which raised $10,164 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Kutz founded Touchdown 4 A Cure while playing for Southeast, and the foundation has raised more than $100,000 since 2004.

Kutz was among 11 UIF players nominated for the award.

On the field, Kutz was successful on 25 field goals and 49 extra points to help the Rage reach the UIF playoffs in their debut season.