Arkansas State football battled back with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns, but ultimately dropped a hard-fought 28-18 decision to No. 17/16 Michigan Saturday at Michigan Stadium.

The Red Wolves (2-1) rallied from a 28-3 deficit and scored twice in the final six minutes on touchdown passes by Timmy McClain to Reginald Harden Jr., outscoring the Wolverines (2-1) 15-7 in the fourth. A-State forced Michigan into three interceptions thrown by UM quarterback Davis Warren – the most by an A-State team since 2017.

McClain completed 7-of-11 passes for 82 yards, while Jaylen Raynor was 19-of-33 for 140 yards. Twelve different players caught passes for A-State, led by Courtney Jackson’s five receptions for 41 yards. Harden led in yardage with 52 on three catches.

Marvin Ham and Trevian Thomas recorded a game-high nine tackles each, while Thomas, Dontay Joyner and Charles Willekes recorded interceptions. The picks by Willekes and Joyner were the first of their careers.

A-State drove inside the Michigan 25 on its opening drive, but a Clune Van Andel 42-yard field-goal try careened off the right post. The Wolverines then took possession and drove 76 yards in 11 plays capped by a 30-yard rushing touchdown by Kalel Mullings, striking first for a 7-0 lead, which would hold through the opening quarter. Mullings rushed 15 times for 153 yards to lead the Wolverines.

After Willekes intercepted a Warren pass and returned it to the Michigan 15, Van Andel put the Red Wolves on the board with a 27-yard field goal to make it 7-3 early in the second. Michigan then answered with another lengthy drive, as Donovan Edwards ended a 13-play series that lasted over 7-and-a-half minutes with a 7-yard score to push the Wolverine lead to 14-3.

Mullings found the end zone again with 2:57 to play in the half, scoring on a 5-yard rush to push Michigan’s lead to 21-3. Inside the final minute, Thomas picked off a Warren pass to set up a final drive for the Red Wolves before intermission. A-State drove all the way to the Wolverine 21, but a 38-yard kick by Van Andel was no good off the left upright, giving the hosts a 21-3 lead at the half.

Michigan tacked on another score with 12:49 remaining in the contest on a 9-yard strike from Alex Orji to Hogan Hansen.

A-State later responded with a touchdown at the 5:38 mark, as McClain linked up with a wide-open Harden for a 24-yard score to make it 28-10. Following a punt, McClain and Harden connected again with 8 seconds to go, and then McClain converted the two-point try on a rush attempt.

The Red Wolves remain on the road next week at Iowa State. Kick-off against the Cyclones is set for 1 p.m. inside Jack Trice Stadium in Ames.