Efren Herrera Efren Herrera ( born July 30 , 1951 in Guadalajara , Jalisco , Mexico ) is a former placekicker in the National Football League from 1974 – 1982 . After a college career at the University of California , Los Angeles , Herrera kicked for the Dallas Cowboys in 1974 and 1976 – 1977 . Herrera was selected to the Pro Bowl after the 1977 season . He was a part of the Cowboys ' Super Bowl XII - winning team . He later kicked for the Seattle Seahawks and the Oklahoma Outlaws of the United States Football League . Early years . At age 15 , his family moved to the United States from Guadalajara , Mexico . He attended La Puente High School and practiced soccer with no knowledge about football , until he was spotted kicking a basketball into a soccer goal . He eventually joined the football team , playing as a placekicker and safety . Herrera accepted a scholarship to UCLA where he was a midfielder for the soccer team and a placekicker for the football team . In 1971 against the University of Washington , he set the school record for made field goals ( 4 ) in one game . In the opening game of the 1972 season , he kicked the game - winning field goal , with 20 seconds left , in UCLA ' s 20 – 17 upset of two - time defending national champion Nebraska . In 1973 he broke the school ' s PATs attempted ( 64 ) and made ( 61 ) record . As a senior in 1974 he led the nation in scoring . During his career , the UCLA Bruins football team regularly finished among the leaders in the nation in scoring , which helped him leave as the school and NCAA career leader in scoring with 368 points ( 1971 - 1974 ) . He also set the career record for PATs attempted ( 127 ) and made ( 121 ) . Professional career . Detroit Lions . Herrera was drafted in the seventh round of the 1974 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions . On September 12 , 1974 he was released before the season started . Dallas Cowboys . The Dallas Cowboys signed him as a free agent after the third game of the 1974 season . In 1977 he was an All - Pro selection , the NFL second leading scorer ( 93 points ) and made the 1978 Pro Bowl at the end of the season . He also helped the Cowboys win Super Bowl XII , while setting the record for most field goals attempted ( 5 ) . On August 14 , 1978 he was traded to the Seattle Seahawks for an undisclosed draft choice , because of a contract dispute . The Cowboys replaced him with Rafael Septien . Seattle Seahawks . In Seattle he became a fan favorite as part of a special teams unit that was known for its fake field goal plays , where he had to pass , run and catch . In 1979 he recorded a career high 100 points . On September 9 , 1982 he was waived by the Seahawks in favor of rookie Norm Johnson . Buffalo Bills . In 1982 he was signed by the Buffalo Bills for the strike abbreviated season ( playing only 7 games ) and was released at the end of the season . At the time he ranked second all - time in career field goal accuracy with 67 . 8 % . Los Angeles Raiders . In 1983 he was signed by the Los Angeles Raiders , but was released before the season started . Oklahoma / Arizona Outlaws ( USFL ) . In 1984 he signed with the Oklahoma Outlaws , which merged with the Arizona Wranglers on December 4 , 1984 . He was released by the Arizona Outlaws on 25 January 1985 , after the team acquired Luis Zendejas . Personal life . After graduating college , he received an offer to play professional soccer for the Los Angeles Aztecs of the , but decided to pursue an NFL career instead . Herrera is currently an assistant coach at Claremont High School in Claremont , California .