BOBCATS BY THE NUMBERS: 51 Days Until Kickoff!
7/11/2019 3:00:00 PM | Football
Taylor Tuiasosopo has become a strong contributor as a Bobcat guard
July 11: In addition to a quick look at players wearing the jersey number corresponding to the number of days remaining until Montana State's season opener at Texas Tech on August 31, Bobcats by the Numbers brings you another tidbit or two aligning with that number.
#51
Taylor Tuisasopo, OG: Taylor Tuiasosopo's emergence in 2017 as a productive starting guard became an important factor in Montana State's Big Sky-leading ground game, and he has remained a big part of MSU's offensive production since. Tuiasosopo started the first eight games of 2018, and enters the 2019 season slotted as a starting guard.
51(.5) – Combined sacks by Bobcat defensive linemen and Bozeman High products Corey Widmer and Dane Fletcher
Bozeman High and old Gallatin County High have made amazing contributions to Bobcat football glory – Cy Gatton led a flood of talent down 11th Street in 1913 that included Punk Taylor and Gene Street, Brick Breeden, Jay Groepper, Brad Daws and later on his son Dusty, and in more recent years stars such as Nick Marudas and Grant Collins have played major roles in MSU's football success. But two of Bozeman High's all-time greats also became all-time Bobcat greats, Corey Widmer (BHS '87) and Dane Fletcher (BHS '05). The two combined for 51.5 sacks and 117 tackles for loss (Fletcher 51, Widmer a school-record 66).
Chronology: Joe Dobeus (1926), Everett Best (1927), Bud Gill (1937), Willie Baugh (1953), Hal Walker (1954-55), Darrell Hueth (1956), Phil Whitner (1957), Dan Costello (1958), Bob Cegelski (1959-62), Terry Albrecht (1963-65), Ray Biggs (1966-67), Gene Wasia (1968-69), Rick Urdahl (1970-71), Brooks Lanning (1973), Lee Washburn (1974), Jon Kienberger (1975-76), Jack Muhlbeier (1977-80), Tom Martin (1982), Jon Wanago (1984-88), Jeff Newton (1990-92), Mike Knoyle (1993), Jim Sykes (1996-97), Damien Stephens (1999), Blake Wolf (2000-01), Mike Weiss (2002-03), JD Sullivan (2004), Kyle Burch (2005), Pat Keefe (2006), Josiah Lusby (2007-2009), Michael Foster (2010-14), BJ Ojo (2015-16), Jackson McCleery (2017), Taylor Tuiasosopo (2018-)
Bonus Notes for #51: Jeff Newton never said a lot outside the confines of the Bobcat football locker room, but on the field his presence was anything but quiet. A product of Bigfork, Newton earned Second Team All-Big Sky and Honorable Mention All-America honors as a junior defensive tackle in 1991, and was First Team All-Big Sky as a senior. He registered 75 tackles, eight for a loss, with six sacks, as a junior that season. As a senior he led the Cats in tackles – again, as an interior defensive lineman, an amazing feat – and logged seven tackles-for-loss. He forced three fumbles and recovered seven during his Bobcat career… Michael Foster was an exceptional special teams player who overcame injuries to become a solid linebacker for the Cats. He came to Bozeman from the Houston area, but as a youngster growing up in Des Moines, Iowa, he was a ball boy at Drake Bulldogs football games when his future MSU coach Rob Ash roamed the sidelines.
#51
Taylor Tuisasopo, OG: Taylor Tuiasosopo's emergence in 2017 as a productive starting guard became an important factor in Montana State's Big Sky-leading ground game, and he has remained a big part of MSU's offensive production since. Tuiasosopo started the first eight games of 2018, and enters the 2019 season slotted as a starting guard.
51(.5) – Combined sacks by Bobcat defensive linemen and Bozeman High products Corey Widmer and Dane Fletcher
Bozeman High and old Gallatin County High have made amazing contributions to Bobcat football glory – Cy Gatton led a flood of talent down 11th Street in 1913 that included Punk Taylor and Gene Street, Brick Breeden, Jay Groepper, Brad Daws and later on his son Dusty, and in more recent years stars such as Nick Marudas and Grant Collins have played major roles in MSU's football success. But two of Bozeman High's all-time greats also became all-time Bobcat greats, Corey Widmer (BHS '87) and Dane Fletcher (BHS '05). The two combined for 51.5 sacks and 117 tackles for loss (Fletcher 51, Widmer a school-record 66).
Chronology: Joe Dobeus (1926), Everett Best (1927), Bud Gill (1937), Willie Baugh (1953), Hal Walker (1954-55), Darrell Hueth (1956), Phil Whitner (1957), Dan Costello (1958), Bob Cegelski (1959-62), Terry Albrecht (1963-65), Ray Biggs (1966-67), Gene Wasia (1968-69), Rick Urdahl (1970-71), Brooks Lanning (1973), Lee Washburn (1974), Jon Kienberger (1975-76), Jack Muhlbeier (1977-80), Tom Martin (1982), Jon Wanago (1984-88), Jeff Newton (1990-92), Mike Knoyle (1993), Jim Sykes (1996-97), Damien Stephens (1999), Blake Wolf (2000-01), Mike Weiss (2002-03), JD Sullivan (2004), Kyle Burch (2005), Pat Keefe (2006), Josiah Lusby (2007-2009), Michael Foster (2010-14), BJ Ojo (2015-16), Jackson McCleery (2017), Taylor Tuiasosopo (2018-)
Bonus Notes for #51: Jeff Newton never said a lot outside the confines of the Bobcat football locker room, but on the field his presence was anything but quiet. A product of Bigfork, Newton earned Second Team All-Big Sky and Honorable Mention All-America honors as a junior defensive tackle in 1991, and was First Team All-Big Sky as a senior. He registered 75 tackles, eight for a loss, with six sacks, as a junior that season. As a senior he led the Cats in tackles – again, as an interior defensive lineman, an amazing feat – and logged seven tackles-for-loss. He forced three fumbles and recovered seven during his Bobcat career… Michael Foster was an exceptional special teams player who overcame injuries to become a solid linebacker for the Cats. He came to Bozeman from the Houston area, but as a youngster growing up in Des Moines, Iowa, he was a ball boy at Drake Bulldogs football games when his future MSU coach Rob Ash roamed the sidelines.
Players Mentioned
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