MSU's Cole Taylor honored by Big Sky

Cole Taylor, whose back-to-back interceptions keyed MSU’s 56-20 win at Eastern Washington Saturday, was named Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week on Monday. 

Taylor, a senior linebacker out of Great Falls, picked off a Nate Bell pass with 1:27 left in the first half and returned it 36 yards to the Eastern 5-yard line. That set up Adam Jones’ second touchdown of the game, making it 21-6. 

Less than a minute later Taylor picked off Hall again and cruised 61 yards for his first career pick-6, giving MSU a 28-6 lead with 30 seconds left in the half. 

“I’ve been waiting for that one,” said Taylor, who also had nine tackles and a sack. 

The Bobcats have a marquee home game Saturday against Weber State, which at No. 22 in the Stats Perform poll is ranked for the first time since October of 2024. The Wildcats are 4-1 in Big Sky play and MSU is 3-1 in league games. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. 

The special teams award went to Weber State receiver Robert Young, whose 68-yard punt return was a big part of the Wildcats’ 25-20 win over Idaho State Saturday. 

Southern Utah running back Floyd Chalk got the offensive honor. He rushed for a career-high 212 yards, including a 37-yard touchdown run, in the Thunderbirds’ 38-17 win over UC Davis.