For Michigan football, it wasn’t how the Wolverines started — or who they started at quarterback — it was how they finished.

After a mostly lethargic 28 minutes to open Saturday’s game against Michigan State football, the Wolverines (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) scored nine points in the final 29 seconds before halftime, then added a touchdown on the opening drive of the second half to take command and, eventually, finish off the Spartans, 24-17.

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With expected starter Jack Tuttle inactive because of injury, former walk-on Davis Warren — who’d started the first three games before turnover issues forced him to the bench — found his footing in the Wolverines’ two-minute drill. Warren got the Wolverines into the end zone with a 10-yard pass to tight end Colston Loveland in the final minute. But there was trouble with the extra point attempt, and the Wolverines appeared poised to go into the half trailing, 7-6.

But when Michigan State (3-4, 2-3) attempted to push into field goal range, edge rusher Josaiah Stewart strip-sacked MSU quarterback Aidan Chiles — his 13^th turnover this season — and Kenneth Grant recovered to get U-M into field goal range. Dominic Zvada then hit a 37-yarder to give the Wolverines a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

Warren finished 13-for-19 with 123 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions.

Backup Alex Orji, meanwhile, scored the TD to open the second half on a 2-yard run, capping an 11-play, 75-yrd drive.

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The Wolverines got their third TD of the game on a trick play early in the fourth quarter, with Donovan Edwards finding Loveland for a 23-yard TD on an halfback option pass, for a 24-10 lead.

U-M had to hold off a late MSU comeback, as Chiles found freshman receiver Nick March for a 20-yard TD to make it a seven-point lead with 6:12 remaining. After a three-and-out, U-M punted the ball back to MSU with 4:34 remaining.

But the Spartans were unable to capitalize on the final chance.

Michigan now faces a tougher challenge in green, as No. 1 Oregon comes to Michigan Stadium next Saturday (3:30 p.m., CBS). Michigan State, meanwhile, will host Indiana, which will likely be a top-10 team when the polls are released Sunday afternoon.

This story will be updated.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football gets crafty in 24-17 win over Michigan State