By Dave Hart
LocalSportsJournal.com

MUSKEGON – The West Michigan Ironmen made history in their final home game of the regular season.

The Ironmen scored what was reported to be an all-time indoor football record of 107 points on Saturday night at theLSJ Logo incert L.C. Walker Arena against the Cincinnati Bulldogs.

West Michigan, which dominated the Bulldogs 73-6 two weeks ago, continued the carnage with an amazingly one-sided 107-0 victory.

The Ironmen improved to 6-1 on the season, good for first place in American Indoor Football’s Mid-Western Division and Northern Conference.

West Michigan will have the next two weekends off before heading to Chicago to face the Blitz on May 28 for a shot at a division and conference championship in its inaugural season.

“As much as I’m proud of our guys, I thought (Cincinnati) fought hard and deserved a better outcome. But I’m not in control of that,” said Ironmen Coach Ty Lynk. “We didn’t want to put up 107 points. It was just the flow of the game.”

The Ironmen, who suffered a huge loss last week when standout wide receiver Corey Johnson was lost for the season with an ankle fracture, controlled the game from the opening kickoff.

West Michigan jumped out to a 27-0 lead after the first quarter, led 67-0 at halftime and had an 89-0 advantage after three quarters.

The Ironmen reached the 100-point mark (officially breaking the record of 99, according to the Ironmen) on their fourth safety of the game with six minutes left in the fourth quarter.

West Michigan’s defense was a huge factor in the explosive win, compiling six interceptions, three fumble recoveries, four safeties, four sacks and two blocked kicks.

Linebacker Stan Knappen, who has been with the Ironmen all year but suited up for the first time on Saturday, led the defense with two fumble recoveries, a forced safety, an interception and a blocked kick.

“Basically we were just keying in on some of the weaknesses they had, and I was just trying to figure out where I fit in,” Knappen said. “It’s great when our defensive line puts pressure on their offense. I can operate more freely.”

The Ironmen’s Derek Vandenbosch added two interceptions while Luther Robinson Jr. chipped in with two sacks and two forced safeties.

“I’m really more excited about the zero than I am about the 107,” Lynk said about the shutout. “Our guys set a goal and achieved their goal.”

On the offensive side of the ball, quarterback Alex Carder completed four passes for 54 yards and four touchdowns while wideout Justin Mott caught three touchdown passes for 48 yards.

SCORING SUMMARY

FIRST QUARTER

WM 12:26- Justin Mott 14 yard catch from Alex Carder (Jamie Potts kick) WM-7 Cin-0
WM 11:01-Stan Knappen fumble recovery in end zone (kick failed) WM-13 Cin-0
WM 7:03-Garrett Hoskins 3 yard fumble recovery on blocked kick (kick failed) WM-19 Cin-0
WM 2:43-Justin Mott 16 yard catch from Alex Carder (2-pt converted) WM-27 Cin-0

SECOND QUARTER

WM 13:48-Derek Vandenbosch 14 yard interception return (2-pt failed) WM-33 Cin-0
WM 13:47- Team safety by Stan Knappen WM-35 Cin-0
WM10:08-Jamie Potts 7 yard catch from Alex Carder (2-pt converted) WM-43 Cin-0
WM 8:07-Corey Edwards 23 yard interception return (2-pt converted) WM-51 Cin-0
WM 5:46-Ronald Johnson 17 yard catch from Alex Carder (2-pt converted) WM-59 Cin-0
WM 1:00-Corey Ringer 9 yard run (2-pt failed) WM-65 Cin-0
WM 54.7-Team safety by Jamal Abbey WM-67 Cin-0

THIRD QUARTER

WM 10:45-Garrett Hoskins 8 yard catch from Stephen Kulikowski (2-pt failed) WM-73 Cin-0
WM 5:20-Justin Mott 18 yard catch from Stephen Kulikowski (2-pt converted) WM-81 Cin-0
WM 2:05-Erik Thompson 12 yard interception return (2-pt converted) WM-89 Cin-0

FOURTH QUARTER

WM 11:59-Team safety by Luther Robinson Jr. WM-91 Cin-0
WM 10:25-Erik Thomson 37 yard kick return (2-pt converted) WM-99 Cin-0
WM 6:00-Team safety by Luther Robinson Jr. WM-101 Cin-0
WM 1:25-Stephen Kulikowski 7 yard run (2-pt failed) WM-107 Cin-0