Church News - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

National collegiate honors

Published: Saturday, Dec. 11, 2004

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A pair of returned missionaries have earned national collegiate football honors following outstanding 2004 seasons.

Matt Payne
Brigham Young University punter Matt Payne was named to the first squads on the Sporting News and American Football Coaches Association all-America teams.

Payne, a senior from North Ogden, Utah, was also honored on Sports Illustrated's second team All-America unit.

A three-time All-Mountain West Conference first team athlete, Payne finished his final season at BYU averaging a league-best 45.3 yards per punt and ranked second nationally in net punting, averaging 41.1 net yards. He also performed kicking duties for the Cougars.

He served a full-time mission to Portland, Ore. He and his wife, Amanda, are the parents of one child.

Morgan Scalley
University of Utah defensive back Morgan Scalley joined Payne on Sports Illustrated's second team All-America squad.

Scalley was the Mountain West Conference co-defender of the year and a two-time academic All-American.

A native of Salt Lake City, he served a mission to Munich, Germany. He and his wife, Liz, live in Salt Lake City.