PROVO -- For the second time in the past three weeks, sophomore kicker/punter Matt Payne has been selected as the MWC Special Teams Player of the Week.
In the Cougars' 16-20 loss against New Mexico, Payne connected on a career-long 52-yard field goal to cut the New Mexico first-half lead to just 14-13. Payne set up his own field goal attempt with a 28-yard rush on a key fourth-down attempt. Facing a fourth-and-three, Payned tucked the fake-punt attempt, ran past a Lobo defender and scrambled for 28 yards to the New Mexico 36-yard line. Four plays later, Payne booted the career-long 52-yard field goal.
On the night, Payne was three-for-three, connecting on field goals of 32, 52 and 37 yards. Payne was responsible for 10 of the Cougars' 16 points against New Mexico.
In the punting department, Payne had 8 punts for a total of 355 yards, averaging 44.4 yards per punt. He had a long of 56 yards.
Currently, Payne leads the Mountain West Conference and ranks second in the nation with a 47.57 per-game average. In the kicking department, Payne is 8-for-11 on field goal attempts. Until missing a 51-yard attempt against Wyoming, Payne had connected on 8 straight field goals, including back-to-back 47-yarders against SDSU. Payne is a perfect 7-for-7 from 0-39 yards and 3-for-5 from 40-49 yards. On PATs, Payne is 27-of-30 (.900) on the season.