Friday Features: Delta State's Sciorrotta Kicks Down GSC Records
By Chris Megginson
When Todd Cooley was hired as Delta State University’s head football coach in January 2013, he was asked early and often, “Do you have a kicker?”
“I told them, ‘we don’t have one yet, but we’re going to find one,’” Cooley recalls.
In the spring of 2013, a high school senior named
Vince Sciorrotta from Gainesville, Georgia attended an open tryout and won the starting job with his consistency, according to Cooley. Sciorrotta, who collected 92 points (9-of-13 on field goals and 65 PATs) during his career at North Forsyth High School, had only been playing football since his freshman year of high school.
“The opportunity I was given is not ordinary for kickers,” Sciorrotta said. “I was really blessed to come in and get that starting job and maintain and keep it through these years.”
Sciorrotta has been a fixture in the Statesmen’s program, according to Cooley, and his longevity has paid off.
On Oct. 21, the redshirt senior hit a 42-yard field goal in the first quarter against Valdosta State to become the Gulf South Conference’s all-time leader for points by kicking. His now 313 career points tops that of VSU All-American Will Rhody who set the record in 2004 with 308 career points.
The record was only the latest in a series of career milestones for Sciorrotta in 2017. He became Delta State’s all-time scorer on Sept. 9 with six PATs in a win over Chowan. He has also become Delta State and GSC’s leader for PATs attempted (194) and made (184), two records previously held by Jacksonville State University’s Slade Stinnett from 1989-1992.
“When you think about how long (Delta State) has been open and how long they’ve played football here, it’s pretty crazy to think that out of all of the great players who have come through here that you’re the one who has scored the most points. It’s definitely an honor,” Sciorrotta said.
Sciorrotta’s time at Delta State began by making 10 field goals and 50-of-51 PATs as a freshman. That included game-winning field goals against North Alabama and Tarleton State to help the Statesmen finish the 2013 season 7-3, a turnaround from a 3-7 finish the year before Cooley and Sciorrotta landed in Cleveland, Mississippi.
As a sophomore, he eclipsed his high school career total with 93 points in the 2014 season (11 FG, 60 PAT) and added 12 field goals and 46 PATs (82 points) as a junior in 2015.
While Sciorrotta first learned of his record-breaking chances before a groin injury sidelined him in 2016, Cooley said he didn’t catch on until about two games into the 2017 season. Much like his team’s season, Cooley said the Sciorrotta’s records are the product of him keeping his head down and doing the work each day.
“He’s meant a lot to our program … He deserves everything he gets because he’s worked hard,” Cooley said. “He and I have been through a lot together. I’ve watched him grow up as he’s been in college. I’m just proud of him.”
Sciorrotta, who credits his mom, Sue, for keeping him encouraged and motivated during his injury, said he felt better coming into the 2017 season than any of his years at Delta State. His stats have reflected that, kicking 10 field goals in his last six games, including three each against Mississippi College and West Alabama.
“I think a lot of it has to do with my confidence in him,” Cooley said. “Last year, we didn’t have him, and I think we may have led the country in going for it on fourth down. I sure like having Vince and knowing he has good range. I feel good about getting three points.”
With three regular season games remaining – two on the road and then Senior Day on Nov. 11 – there is still one GSC career record Sciorrotta has not broken. His 43 field goals made (as of Oct. 21) is eight shy of the conference record (51), held by Rhody and North Alabama alum James Knowles.
“That would be unreal. I came to Delta State to play football and never thought I’d break any records, much less hold every record for the kicking game,” Sciorrotta said. “It’s a huge honor. Those guys have had those (GSC) records since I was a little kid or just starting grade school.”
The Statesmen (6-2, 4-2 GSC) also still have hopes for the NCAA Division II playoffs, ranked No. 5 in the first edition of the NCAA Super Regional Rankings, which could give Sciorrotta even more opportunities to climb on the GSC all-time overall scoring list. He is currently fourth on the overall list behind UNA alum DeMarcus Blount (382), Central Arkansas alum Kentrel Rogers (322) and Valdosta State alum Aaron Jenkins (318).
When the record book is final, and his kicking career comes to an end, Sciorrotta hopes to go from Delta State to Delta Airlines, where his father, Sam, is a captain. A commercial aviation major at DSU, he will complete his commercial pilot rating this month and begin working on his instructor rating. He said, while his dad never pushed him to be a pilot, he realized entering college that he wanted to follow his dad.
“I’ve watched him do that as I grew up and decided I want to do the same thing … I’d love to get on with Delta, so I can fly with my dad one day and be the exact same type of man he is today,” Sciorrotta said. “He’s played a huge role in my life … I definitely look up to him a lot. Everything he’s accomplished and all of the experiences he’s shared with me, I’m really blessed to have someone in my life who is doing the same thing I want to do and can mentor me through all the hard times and keep me motivated.”
Follow Megginson on Twitter @jcmeggs. Email comments to megginsonjc@gmail.com.
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