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Offense sputters, but Michigan Wolverines beat Arkansas State, 28-18

Vaseline September 14, 2024

Ann Arbor – Michigan, still stinging from a loss to Texas, hoped to find its offensive identity against Arkansas State by establishing the run.

The 17th-ranked Wolverines came closer to doing just that with a 28-18 win over the Red Wolves on Saturday at Michigan Stadium. But they also made a quarterback change along the way, as the passing game continues to struggle. Michigan is 2-1 and opens Big Ten play next week at home against USC.

Quarterback Davis Warren was making his third start, but after throwing a third interception, backup Alex Orji came in with just over three minutes left in the third quarter and finished the game. Warren finished 11 of 14 for 122 yards, but didn’t throw a touchdown. Orji was 2 of 4 for 12 yards and had three carries for 27 yards.

Arkansas State (2-1) entered the game ranked 119th.^and nationally in run defense, allowing an average of 199 yards per game. This was a golden opportunity for Michigan’s run game to finally get going and play the “smash” game that head coach Sherrone Moore loves. Michigan rushed for 301 yards, led by Kalel Mullings with 153 yards and two touchdowns. He had a 30-yard touchdown and broke out for a 38-yard run in the fourth quarter. Donovan Edwards ran for 82 yards and a touchdown.

Meanwhile, Arkansas State struggled to run the ball, missing two field goals and having a pass in the red zone intercepted by Makari Paige late in the third quarter. But Michigan’s defense, mostly backups, was leaky in the fourth quarter, giving up two touchdowns, the first on a 24-yard pass from Timmy McClain to Reginald Harden Jr. to pull Arkansas State within 28-10. This was their response to Michigan’s score when tight end Hogan Hansen caught a 9-yard pass from Orji. With eight seconds left, Harden caught a 22-yard touchdown pass from McClain and then made the two-point conversion to complete a 75-yard, 11-play drive.

The Red Wolves finished with 280 yards, including 222 passing, and were successful 7-of-18 times on third down.

SCOREBOX: Michigan 28, Arkansas State 18

There were other issues of concern for the Wolverines as top tight end Colston Loveland went to the locker room early in the second half after apparently suffering a shoulder injury. He returned to the sideline later in the half in street clothes. Also late in the game, starting left tackle Myles Hinton limped off the field.

Michigan led 21-3 at halftime after putting together two long, time-consuming scoring drives that produced two rushing touchdowns, one by Edwards and one by Mullings. Mullings put the finishing touches on a shorter scoring drive set up by strong field position to score his second touchdown of the half for a 21-3 halftime lead.

It was a challenging half for Warren, who was 8 of 10 for 106 yards and had two interceptions. There was a protection breakdown on the first interception by Charles Willekes, the brother of former Michigan State All-American defensive end Kenney Willekes. Willekes returned the ball 30 yards to the Michigan 15-yard line where he was stopped by Max Bredeson. On the Wolverines’ final possession of the half, they reached the Arkansas State 31-yard line when Warren, whose right elbow appeared to be struck as he threw, was intercepted by Trevian Thomas.

Arkansas State dropped by six points after kicker Clune Van Andel saw his 42-yard attempt on the Red Wolves’ first series bounce off the right post. With two seconds left in the half after Arkansas State intercepted Warren and drove 58 yards, the Red Wolves called a timeout and brought Van Andel up for a 38-yard attempt. Michigan then called a timeout. Van Andel missed again, this time hitting the left post. He did make a 27-yarder early in the second quarter.

The Wolverines outrebounded Arkansas State 282-112 for 176 yards rushing while limiting the Red Wolves to minus-6 yards rushing. Michigan, which struggled on third down in a loss to Texas a week earlier, was 5-of-5. Mullings had seven carries for 86 yards, including a long run of 30 yards for his first score of the game, and Edwards had 13 carries for 70 yards and a touchdown.

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