Sherrone Moore: Alex Orji 'controlled the offense' vs Arkansas State

Michigan defeated Arkansas State 28-18 on Saturday, leading by as many as 24 points during the contest.

Despite being in control of the game, Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore made the decision to bench quarterback Davis Warren after throwing three interceptions. Backup Alex Orji was given the nod over the final quarter and a half.

CLICK HERE to go to PrizePicks and use code ON3 to receive a guaranteed $50 once you play $5 in lineups!

Orji, a junior, finished the second half against the Red Wolves having completed 2 of 4 passes for 12 yards, including a nine-yard touchdown strike to tight end Hogan Hansen in the fourth quarter.

“Davis was playing good, but you can’t have those turnovers,” Moore said on the field postgame. “Orji went in there and did a good job, missed the one throw, but thought he controlled the offense pretty well. We’ll go from there.”

Watch College Football Games Live -Try for Free Fubo! Click HERE NOW

Save $30 on your first month of Fubo by CLICKING HERE NOW! For a limited time, you can get your first month of Fubo for as low as $49.99. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and 200+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)

Orji was an immediate threat to the Arkansas State defense on the ground and finsihed the game with three rushes for 27 yards to help the Wolverines total over 300 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.

“We talked about establishing the run on offense. I felt like we did that at a high rate,” Moore said. “I thought the first team and second team defense did a really good job, but we got to finish the end. We can’t have those things going at the end of the football game, so we’ll clean those things up.”

Moore also didn’t have an initial injury update for star tight end Colston Loveland after the game. He was initally injured at the end of the first half. He was back on the field for the start of the third quarter, but back on the sidelines and later escorted by training staff to the locker room.

By the end of the third quarter, he had been ruled out of the game, per the Big Ten Network broadcast. He came out of the locker room in a t-shirt, but the on-air report was unable to specify any specific injury.

Still, the Michigan offense totaled 435 yards on offense and despite turning the ball over three times, the defensive unit only allowed a field goal on drives after those interceptions.

“Yeah, there’s a lot of positives to take from it,” Moore said. “It felt like we ran the ball well thought the defense really got their groove, especially the ones in the two so we’ll build off of that and other guys got to step up because we have a long season.”