Todd Ledoux had more interest than most fans in on-field halftime activities at Pittsburgh Steelers home games this season.

The 27-year-old Cranberry Township resident and 1996 North Allegheny High graduate was the first winning contestant in the Giant Eagle field goal kicking contest this year. He booted a 35-yarder at halftime of the Steelers' regular season opener Sept. 11 at Heinz Field.

Two other contestants competed with him. Each had to try a field goal from the 5-, 10- and 15-yard lines. Whoever accumulated the most points got to attempt a 35-yard field goal for airline tickets to and from anywhere in the continental United States.

"One guy never came close on any of his kicks," Ledoux said. "I don't even think he reached the end zone. The other guy made one from the 5-yard line. I made my kick from the 15 to beat him out."

But he had never made a 35-yard field goal.

"I never played football in my life," Ledoux said. "But I saw the display for this contest and entered. Heinz Field is like holy ground to me. The thought of walking out on that field really intrigued me."

Ledoux played basketball and volleyball at North Allegheny. Now employed in pharmaceutical sales, he took a football out to North Allegheny's high school field to practice for a day.

"I was out there maybe 30 or 40 minutes," he said. "I never came close to making one from 35 yards out. Not even close. I was kicking straight on, wearing tennis shoes. How that kick went through (the goalposts) that day, I have no clue."

But it did. Ledoux's kick sailed just inside the right upright. He won the airlines tickets — and the right to return to Heinz Field for the Steelers' regular season finale this Sunday to compete against other finalists for a Super Bowl prize package. That package includes round-trip airfare, game tickets and accommodations.

As the season wore on, no other finalists were emerging — something Ledoux was well aware of.

"I've been a season ticket holder since they opened Heinz Field," he said. "All of the people who sit around us in Section 534 kept cheering with me week after week, as all of those potential kickers kept missing.

"Going to the Super Bowl is a lifelong dream of mine. I thought I was home free — until that last game."

At halftime of the Steelers' last home game Dec. 11, Doug Caruso of Mars joined Ledoux as a successful contestant when he booted a 35-yard field goal.

"The guy had boots on!" Ledoux said. "He has a heckuva strong leg. My work's cut out for me.

"I started two-a-days last week," he said, jokingly.

Like Ledoux, Caruso has no prior experience kicking a football.

"That makes me feel a little better," he said. "We sound a lot alike. I'm sure we'll both have a lot of fun with this — I just don't want to be humiliated. I'm sure I'll take a few buddies and head back to the practice field between now and the game."