Eastern Michigan rolls past Western Michigan 45-23

KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- — Taylor Powell threw for three touchdowns, Samson Evans ran for three and Jose Ramirez set an Eastern Michigan record for sacks as the Eagles rolled to a 45-23 win over Western Michigan on Saturday.

The win for the Eagles (4-2, 1-1 Mid-American Conference) was their fourth straight in the series and follows a five-game string by the Broncos (2-4, 1-1), the longest in the 57-game series.

Samson opened the scoring with a 2-yard touchdown run and then Powell hit Dylan Drummond with a 2-yard pass to cap an 11-play, 88-yard drive and a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.

Samson added TD runs of 1 and 6 yards in the second quarter. Powell found Darius Lassiter for 38 yards in the second, for a 35-7 halftime lead, and Hassan Beydoun in the third.

Ramirez had four of the seven sacks by the defense, which held Western to 91 yards on the ground, just one more yard than Samson had.

Powell as 20 of 30 for 293 yards and Lassiter, a junior college transfer, had his first 100-yard game, getting 104 on six catches.

Jack Salopek threw for two touchdowns for the Broncos but was just 15 of 40 for 208 yards.

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