Michigan overcomes stagnant offense to defeat Fresno State, 30-10

Saturday night was the start of a new era for the No. 9 Michigan football team. 

No Jim Harbaugh on the sidelines, no J.J. McCarthy in the pocket. After their previous era culminated in an undefeated season and a National Championship, plenty of questions swirled about how the 2024 edition of the Wolverines would follow it up. 

Michigan coach Sherrone Moore called the plays and senior quarterback Davis Warren took the first snap on Saturday, but a new era didn’t mean a change in results — though it also didn’t mean the same level of dominance. And despite often-sluggish offensive play featuring unresolved questions at quarterback, the Wolverines (1-0) managed enough points to fend off Fresno State (0-1), 30-10.

Though Warren took the first snap of the game, junior quarterback Alex Orji accounted for Michigan’s first points. After junior cornerback Zeke Berry picked off the Bulldogs’ second pass attempt, Orji came in at the 3-yard line on the Wolverines’ first drive. Orji rolled right on his first and only completion of the game, finding senior running back Donovan Edwards open in space for his first career passing touchdown. 

The first drive featured success from both starting quarterback candidates, but those early bursts soon gave way to a slog. The Wolverines averaged just 3.3 yards per play in the first half, indicative of Warren’s early struggles — as well as Edwards’. 

As the offense stumbled, the defense kept Michigan ahead. The Wolverines allowed more total yards than they gained in the first half, but they came up with enough stops in key moments to hold Fresno State to a single field goal, with 7:35 left in the half. 

Finally, perhaps slightly woken up by the Bulldogs’ first points, the Wolverines began to find a rhythm. Graduate running back Kalel Mullings took advantage of increased touches, and Warren repeatedly found junior tight end Colston Loveland over the middle of the field to keep the chains moving. That formula led to three field goals for junior kicker Dominic Zvada — from 45, 53 and 55 yards, respectively — bookending halftime and starting the fourth quarter l, to give Michigan a 16-3 lead.

The Wolverines still hadn’t taken much advantage of their defense’s success, though. So when Fresno State quarterback Mikey Keene casually drove Fresno State down the gridiron before finding wideout Raylen Sharpe for a 19-yard score with 10 minutes left, Warren and Michigan suddenly found itself back in a one-score game. 

Needing to respond, Michigan turned back to the only two facets of its offense that had made anything happen all day: Mullings and Loveland. 

Mullings started the charge, barging up the middle and through opposing tacklers for consecutive 21- and 15-yard runs, highlighting his 92-yard day. Warren then found Loveland cutting across the middle once more at the 10-yard line. Loveland cut upfield, breaking two tackles and the plane for a crucial 18-yard touchdown with 5:43 left in the game. Junior cornerback Will Johnson then all but sealed the game on the ensuing Bulldogs drive with an 86-yard pick six, following two called-back interceptions.

Led by key playmakers in Mullings and Loveland and supported by an effective defensive performance, Michigan overcame an unmoving offensive performance. But at the start of a new era, and one filled with its fair share of uncertainty, Saturday’s showing left a lot of issues swirling in the air, yet to be resolved.

The post Michigan overcomes stagnant offense to defeat Fresno State, 30-10 appeared first on The Michigan Daily.


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