FLORENCE, Ala. (September 30, 2024) – For the first time ever, the University of North Alabama had a player earn United Athletic Conference Specialist of the Week honors as graduate kicker
Scott Payne won the award Monday.
Payne is currently the league leader in both field goals made and field goal percentage in the UAC. He has eight makes on nine attempts this season for an 88.9 percentage, including a 3-for-4 showing this past weekend in a 25-16 win over West Georgia.
Payne's nine points proved to be the difference in a nine-point win.
The graduate transfer from Middle Tennessee made field goals of 24, 27 and 30 yards in the victory. His one miss came on a pushed field goal after a tough snap in the third quarter, ending a perfect streak that spanned seven field goals. At that time, he was the only player in the UAC with multiple makes and no misses. No other UAC kicker has made more than five field goals.
Payne also went 2-2 on PATs and remains perfect at 6-6 this season.
For the season, Payne's longest field goal is a 45-yarder against UT Martin. It was the fourth-longest field goal in UNA's FCS era and was nine yards short of the all-time record held by Taylor Pontius of 54 yards to defeat Valdosta State in 2014.
Prior to joining the UNA roster this season, Payne spent four seasons at MTSU as a kickoff specialist. The Signal Mountain, Tenn. native attempted over 100 kickoffs for the Blue Raiders, but did not attempt any field goals.
Since joining the UAC last season, North Alabama has won 10 weekly awards. This includes five freshman of the week awards, two offensive player of the weeks, two defensive player of the weeks and one specialist of the week. Payne is the sixth player to earn a weekly honor for UNA this season.
The Lions are home this week to face Utah Tech on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 4 p.m. inside Braly Stadium. This will be UNA's "Pink Out" game and the 1994 National Championship Team reunion game.
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