Reginald Bell

The Eastern Michigan University football team used 38 first half points to cruise to a 48-29 non-conference road victory over the University of Wyoming Saturday, Sept. 12, at War Memorial Stadium. The victory snapped a 14-game road skid for the team dating back to the 2012 campaign as well as marking the program's first non-conference road victory since 1988.Making his first start since Sept. 13, 2014, redshirt sophomoreled the Eagle offense with a career-high 330 yards on 17-of--24 passing and three scores. Roback was extremely sharp as he earned the start in place of, who was sidelined following an injury last weekend.On the ground, redshirt freshmanwas the team leader with 129 yards on 16 carries and two touchdowns. It was the first 100-yard rushing game of his career.Through the air it was another freshman,, leading the Eagles with three catches for 105 yards and a score. It was also the first 100-yard receiving game of his young EMU career.Defensively, redshirtstarred for the Green and White finishing with four tackles, including one for loss as well as a sack, and a forced fumble which he would recover.would lead the team in tackles with 10.As a team, EMU put up big offensive numbers with a balanced attack of 176 yards on the ground and 330 through the air for a total of 506 yards. They were also efficient, as they converted 7-of-12 third downs and were 4-for-4 in the red zone.Defensively the Green and White played lock-down pass defense, allowing only 32 yards through the air. EMU also won the turnover battle, as they forced one and did not suffer one themselves.The Cowboys got the scoring started on their first drive of the game with a five-yard touchdown run from Justice Murphy. However, the Eagles responded on the ensuing drive. The big play of the drive was a 57-yard pass from Roback to seniorto put EMU in Wyoming territory.On the next play, Vann took the direct snap and scampered 15 yards into the end zone for the first touchdown of his career.Later in the quarter, the Pokes had a steady drive going when, following a long run on a scramble, UW quarterback Josh Allen was knocked out of the game after sustaining a big hit on the play. Wyoming was forced to turn to redshirt-freshman Nick Smith, the team's third-string signal caller, whom had never played in a collegiate game until this point. EMU promptly forced a three and out, and the Cowboys missed the resulting field goal.Taking over after the missed field goal, EMU put together another steady drive guided by the arm of Roback. The righty went five of seven, finishing with a three-yard touchdown pass to junior tight endto take the lead. It was the first catch and touchdown of his EMU career.On the following kickoff, redshirt junior kickerattempted the onside kick, which he recovered himself after the ball traveled ten yards. It was the first recovered onside kick for EMU since 2007.Set up with good field position, the Eagles once again strung together a solid drive to start the second quarter and extend their lead. The Green and White went 53 yards in eight plays, capped off with a 17-yard touchdown toss from Roback toThe EMU offense continued its offensive assault the next time they touched the ball. Following another UW missed field goal, Vann once again ran wild, this time going for a 74-yard touchdown score, putting EMU up 28-7. The run put him over 100 yards on the day. The offensive onslaught continued on the next drive, this time a nine play 65-yard scoring drive capped off by a two-yard Jackson run.The Eagle defense continued the pressure on the next UW drive. On the first play, Dawson stripped the Wyoming ball carrier and recovered the fumble to give EMU great field position close to the end of the first half.Despite the field position, the Pokes defense held steady and forced the 39-yard EMU field goal which was converted byto give the Eagles the 38-7 lead. The last time the Eagles scored on five consecutive drives was against Toledo, Oct.13, 2012, when EMU scored on six straight drives.UW would respond with its last drive of the first half, scoring with less than a minute on the clock to send the game to halftime with a 38-14 score.Wyoming started the second half with a quick scoring drive on a long touchdown run and a converted two-point conversion to make the score 38-22 early in the third quarter. EMU would respond, however, with a quick scoring drive of their own. This long touchdown drive consisted of a 64-yard pass from Roback to Daugherty to extend the EMU lead to 45-22.Wyoming would continue grinding it out on the ground against EMU late in the third quarter. They scored on a rushing touchdown from Brian Hill with just under a minute to play in the quarter to cut the lead to 45-29.The offenses cooled down in the fourth quarter. Wyoming's best opportunity for points was midway through the quarter before they turned the ball over on downs in the EMU redzone. Eastern took over following the turnover and used a long drive to set up a 41-yard Mulder field goal with just under three minutes left in the contest, closing out the EMU victory, 48-29.Eastern returns to "The Factory" at Rynearson Stadium next week, Sept. 19, with the first action in Mid-American Conference play against the Cardinals of Ball State University. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN3.