Griz Gillman shares Big Sky weekly award

A career night landed Montana running back Eli Gillman co-Offensive Player of the Week honors for the Big Sky Conference, the league announced Monday.

Gillman ran for 198 yards – averaging 13.2 yards a carry – in the Grizzlies’ 42-17 win over Central Washington Saturday at Washington-Grizzly Stadium. 

The junior from Dassel, Minn., took his first carry 54 yards for a touchdown, then added scoring runs from 11 yards and 1 yard out. He set up his third TD with a 61-yard burst down the left sideline. 

It’s Gillman’s second such honor. His 198 yards is the Big Sky high in this two-week old season; his previous one-day best was 175 yards. 

Gillman climbed past Rocky Klever to sixth in career rushing for the Griz, at 2,335 yards. His three TDs gave him 33 for his career, tying him with Marc Mariani for fifth all-time. 

Gillman shared the award with Idaho quarterback Joshua Wood. The Fresno State transfer had 377 yards of total offense had had a hand in four touchdowns, including a game-clinching 59-yard scoring run in the Vandals’ 37-30 win over St. Thomas.  

Gillman and the Grizzlies play at Washington-Grizzly Stadium again Saturday, against North Dakota of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. 

Two players shared the award on defense: Ezra Ekuban of Northern Colorado and Koa Akui of Sacramento State, in narrow losses to FBS opponents. 

Ekuban had nine tackles, two for losses, a sack and forced fumble in the Bears’ 21-17 loss at Colorado State; Akui made two interceptions in the Honrets’ 20-17 loss at Nevada. 

The special teams player of the week was Idaho State place kicker Trajan Sinatra. He was 3-for-3 on field goals – hitting a 56-yarder – and scored 10 points in the Bengals’ 32-22 loss at New Mexico.