By Andrew Johnson
LocalSportsJournal.com

MUSKEGON – The Muskegon Mustangs are known for their prolific offense, but demonstrated on Saturday that they can win with timely defense, as well.LSJ Logo incert

After struggling offensively throughout the game, it was the Mustangs’ defense that provided the knockout punch in their 20-8 victory over the Capital City Stealth in a first-round Great Lakes Football League playoff game.

Demonte Collins stiff arms a defender on the Mustang possession. Photo/Joe Lane

Demonte Collins stiff arms a defender on the Mustang possession. Photo/Joe Lane

With the score 14-8 in favor of Muskegon with 45 seconds left, Ryan Williams picked off a Capital City pass and returned it to the end-zone from 45 yards out to seal the victory.

“With the time they had left, we knew they’d be throwing the ball,” said Williams. “I could tell where he was going to throw the ball and I knew I was going to get in the end-zone even before he threw the ball.

Capital City started the game with a 10-minute drive that ended inside Muskegon’s 10-yard line when the Mustangs recovered a fumble.

The two teams traded possessions until the second quarter when quarterback Aaron James found Dave Fox for a 37-yard touchdown completion to give Muskegon a 6-0 lead.

The Mustangs went up 14-0 in the third quarter when Aaron James threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Eric James.

The Stealth cut Muskegon’s lead to 14-8 with 13:27 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The game remained 14-8 as the teams traded possessions until the Williams interception sealed the victory for Muskegon

“It was tough, we played Capital City a few weeks ago and we won 40-35,’ said Mustang head coach Rob Brown. “They came to play today and we were sluggish, but we made enough plays.”

Muskegon will next host either the Lake Michigan Havoc or the Flint Fury on August 27 in a second-round playoff game.