Montana running back Eli Gillman set a Big Sky career scoring record against Portland State, then swept national and conference player-of-the-week honors. His four-touchdown performance also strengthened his case for the Walter Payton Award as Montana heads into a pivotal matchup with Idaho State.

By the Numbers
  • 78 career touchdowns — a new Big Sky record.
  • 4 touchdowns on 9 touches; 244 all-purpose yards, including 196 rushing yards on 8 carries.
  • 5,034 career rushing yards and 1,357 this season.
  • 25 touchdowns this season, tied for Montana’s single-season record.
Yes, But

Gillman’s record-setting season is still in progress, with two regular-season games left. He is chasing major FCS career marks, including Brian Westbrook’s 89 total touchdowns and Adrian Peterson’s 84 rushing touchdowns.

State of Play
  • Gillman earned his second Stats Perform FCS National Offensive Player of the Week honor, third Big Sky weekly honor this season, and the East-West Shrine Bowl’s Offensive Player of the Week award.
  • He leads the FCS in rushing yards, rushing yards per game, total touchdowns, points scored and all-purpose yards.
What’s Next

Montana hosts Idaho State in a pivotal conference game this week, with kickoff set for 8:30 p.m. on ESPN2.

Bottom Line

Gillman’s historic production is driving both individual honors and Montana’s late-season push; the Idaho State game is his next chance to extend that momentum.