PITTSBURGH — New Year's Day will represent more than the beginning of 2006 for Doug Caruso.

It also represents a chance to win a free trip to the Super Bowl.

The 36-year-old Mars resident earned that opportunity by booting a 35-yard field goal during a halftime contest at the Pittsburgh Steelers-Chicago Bears game last Sunday at Heinz Field.

Caruso was one of three contestants, the others were from Moon Township and Bridgeport, W.Va., who competed in the contest, sponsored by Giant Eagle.

"Each one of us was given one field goal try from the 5, 10 and 15-yard line," Caruso said. "You got a point for each field goal made."

Whoever accumulated the most points got to attempt a 35-yard field goal. If it was good, the winner received round-trip airplane tickets to anywhere in the continental United States.

All three missed their kicks from 5 and 10 yards out. The first two also missed from 15 before Caruso got his opportunity.

"I knew I had a shot because my first two kicks were barely wide right," he said. "My last kick went to the right, too, but it snuck in there."

Snow was falling when Caruso lined up his 35-yard attempt. The crowd was cheering its support, as each fan would receive a free movie rental if Caruso made good on the kick.

And he did.

"One guy tried to kick soccer style because he had a soccer background," Caruso said. "I found the best approach to be straight-ahead, wearing boots."

Caruso's 35-yard kick sailed through the uprights with room to spare. He was only the second contest participant to make the 35-yard field goal all season.

Both will return Jan. 1 for the Steelers' home game with Detroit and will compete for the Super Bowl prize package.

"They're the only two guys to qualify for the finals of the contest," said John Wodarek, marketing manager for the Steelers. "And this prize is going to somebody."

"That's the carrot I'm most interested in," Caruso said. "I work in sales, travel quite a bit and have built up frequent flyer miles, so the plane tickets aren't something I really need.

"The Super Bowl being played in Detroit is a bit of a drawback, but, hey, I'll take it."

The prize is between him and one other person.

Caruso played linebacker for Mount Pleasant High School and Clarion University, but, he never was a kicker.

His wife, Katie, filled out a postcard at Giant Eagle and entered him in the contest.

"We go to most of the Steelers games and have seen that (field goal) contest at halftime," Caruso said. "She said she was going to enter my name when she went shopping. I guess she filled out those cards a number of times."

Caruso received a call from the Steelers Dec. 6 — five days before the contest — asking him if he'd be interested in participating in the contest Dec. 11.

The next day, he took a football to the Mars High School stadium and began practicing.

"I spent maybe an hour out there, spread out over two days," he said. "I kicked the ball maybe 80 times.

"My prime motivation was that I didn't want to embarrass myself in front of 60,000 people."

While practicing, Caruso discovered he was most accurate kicking the ball straight-on while wearing boots.

"The other (contestants) were wearing tennis shoes and they didn't come close," he said.

Caruso doesn't necessarily have to kick another 35-yard field goal to earn the Super Bowl trip. The final round carries a sudden-death format.

"First one to make a kick while the other guy misses is the winner," Caruso said. "I'll be ready.

"Right after Christmas, I'm going back to the practice field."