Staff report

The University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne, Ind., announced recently that 1995 Sidney High School graduate Scott Payne has been inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

Payne played for Saint Francis from 1998 to 2001 and set the Saint Francis career interceptions record with 18 during his career.

He was named to the Mid-States Football Association’s 20-year team at cornerback, and was a first-team NAIA All-American in 2001. He helped the Cougars to three consecutive Mid-State Football Association Mideast League championships in ‘99, ‘00 and ‘01.

A 2002 Saint Francis graduate, Payne was a three-time all-conference selection, including first team in 2001. He played in 36 games for USF and still holds a share of the single-season interceptions record with nine in ‘01.

He led the team in interceptions in 1999 with four and 2001 with nine, and also set the single-season record for interception return yards in 2001 with 159 yards in his final season, including one for 75 yards and a touchdown against Butler.

He also set the single-game record for interceptions with three against Wisconsin-LaCrosse in 2001, and that mark still stands.

He continued to play football after college, in arena football in Bismarck, N.D., Peoria, Ill., and Raleigh, N.C., until a foot injury ended his career.

He now resides in Cincinnati with his wife Lisa and children Poppy, age 2, and Anthony, age 8.

He is employed at Ray Hamilton Co. as a logistics fleet manager.