Former Hancock Star Artis-Payne Scores First NFL Touchdown During Carolina's 38-10 Win, Panthers Clinch Home-Field Advantage

Making his first start, former Allan Hancock College All-American Cameron Artis-Payne scored his first career NFL touchdown on Sunday during the Carolina Panthers' 38-10 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Panthers finished the regular season 15-1 and captured the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs for the first time in the franchise's 21-year history. 

Artis-Payne scored on an 11-yard touchdown run in the second quarter to give Carolina a 17-3 lead. Artis-Payne saw extensive action for the third straight week as the team's top two running backs, Jonathan Stewart and Fozzy Whitaker, sat out Sunday's game with injuries.  To see video of the touchdown, click here.

The rookie running back finished with 44 yards rushing on 14 yards. Artis-Payne also caught two passes for 17 yards.

Quarterback Cam Newton completed 21 of 26 passes for 293 yards.  He threw for touchdowns and ran six times for 10 yards and two more scores. 

The Panthers will play the lowest remaining seed after next weekend's wild-card games in a divisional round game on Jan. 16 or 17 at Bank of America Stadium.

Artis-Payne has now played in seven games during his rookie season. He has 183 yards rushing on 45 carries, and five receptions for 58 yards. 

Artis-Payne was a fifth round draft pick in the 2015 NFL Draft after two years at Auburn. He racked up 2,218 yards and 19 touchdowns in two seasons at Auburn. He led the Southeastern Conference in rushing yards his senior season.

Artis-Payne was the first former Hancock football player to be drafted since Sheldon Canley in 1991. Artis-Payne holds Hancock records for most career rushing yards (3,412), career touchdowns (43), most rushing yards in a single-season (2,048) and most touchdowns in a single-season (25).