KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) — Alex Carder threw five touchdown passes, four in the second quarter to help his team pull away, as Western Michigan coasted to a 52-21 victory over Eastern Illinois on Saturday.
Carder completed 29 of 40 passes for 364 yards. Jaime Wilson caught 11 passes for 154 yards and two TDs, and Blake Hammond had six receptions for 94 yards with a pair of scores.
Western Michigan (1-1) came through on defense by sacking Eastern Illinois' Jimmy Garoppolo four times. He completed 15 of 32 passes for 225 yards and a TD.
Western Michigan had 631 yards total offense and kept the ball moving most of the night, converting 10 of 16 third-down situations. Eastern Illinois (1-1) was just 2 of 15.
