ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Kalel Mullings rushed for a career-high 153 yards and two touchdowns to help No. 17 Michigan to a 28-18 victory over Arkansas State on Saturday that made up for Davis Warren’s three interceptions.
The Wolverines (2-1) scored three rushing touchdowns after failing to score a single rushing touchdown to start two games, including last week’s loss to then-No. 3 Texas that ended a 28-game regular-season winning streak and a 23-game home winning streak.
For the reigning national champion, running was much more effective than throwing.
Warren threw one interception in each of the first three quarters and completed 11 of 14 passes for 122 yards, mostly limiting himself to completing short passes.
Alex Orji replaced Warren and took advantage, throwing a 9-yard touchdown pass to Hogan Hansen that gave the Wolverines a 28-3 lead early in the fourth quarter.
The Red Wolves (2-1) scored two late touchdowns and missed opportunities earlier in the game to make the game even closer.
They trailed by just four points for most of the second quarter after Clune Van Andel converted a 27-yard kick, but he hit the right and left uprights on two more field goal attempts in the first half.
Jaylen Raynor had a chance to cut the Wolverines’ 18-point lead at the 20-yard line, but his high pass into the end zone was intercepted by Makari Paige.
Raynor completed 19 of 33 passes for 140 yards and had one interception before coach Butch Jones replaced him with Timmy McClain midway through the fourth quarter.
With 5:38 left, McClain threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Reginald Harden and a short pass to the speedy receiver, who scored with a 22-yard pass with 8 seconds left.
Michigan’s Donovan Edwards had 13 runs for 70 yards and a touchdown in the first half and finished the game with an 82-yard run.
Tight end Colston Loveland, who was nominated for the All-America program in the preseason, had three pass catches for over 30 yards before leaving the field due to injury in the third quarter.
Arkansas State converted three third down attempts on the opening drive, and with a chance to continue the momentum with a fourth-and-1 at Michigan’s 25-yard line, Jones settled for a kick from Van Andel that hit the right upright.
Michigan coach Sherrone Moore could make a change at quarterback. Davis stole the job from Orji earlier in the season but hasn’t done much to keep it. Orji is limited as a passer, but his running ability gives the offensively weak team another way to move the ball. He ran the ball three times for 27 yards and completed 2 of 4 passes for 12 yards with a touchdown.
Michigan could slip once again in the AP Top 25 after another lackluster performance. Michigan started the season ranked No. 9, lost one spot after beating Fresno State, and then dropped another 10 spots after losing to the Longhorns.
Michigan asked fans before the game to observe a moment of silence for actor James Earl Jones, who died Monday, and to cheer for Greg Harden, a Michigan graduate who died Thursday.
Arkansas State faces a ranked team for the second consecutive year, traveling to face 21st-ranked Iowa State on Saturday.
Michigan plays its Big Ten opener against No. 11 USC on Saturday.
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