By Dave Tomczak
LocalSportsJournal.com

MUSKEGON – The West Michigan Ironmen found little resistance in their American Arena Football league playoff opener.

Carrington Thompson moves the ball upfield for the Ironmen. Photo/Leo Valdez

Now they will get a shot at the one team that handed them a loss this season.

West Michigan rolled to a 71-0 win over Indianapolis at L.C. Walker Arena Saturday and advanced to the second round of the AAF playoffs next week at West Virginia.

The Ironmen will face the Roughriders, a 57-13 playoff winner over Jersey, and a team that beat West Michigan 33-28 earlier this season.

“They are a great team and a great organization,” Ironmen coach Nate Smith said. “Obviously it’s a game we’ve been looking forward to since we last played them.”

West Virginia may not be looking forward to seeing the Ironmen, or their defense.

West Michigan held Indianapolis to minus-51 yards in the game, minus-55 on the ground.

“I’m really proud of what we did tonight,” Smith added. “Our defensive line is pretty special and our defensive coaching staff does a good job of getting them prepared.”

Facing a team they beat 62-12 last week, the Ironmen didn’t overlook their opening round playoff opponent.

Instead, they picked up where they left off.

Jeremiah Mullinax took the opening kickoff and pitched it to Marcus Smith, who returned it 25 yards for a 7-0 West Michigan led 18 seconds into the game.

Dakota Smith scored from three yards out on the next possession, then quarterback Michael Whitley hit Deonte Moore from 13 yards out and the Ironmen led 19-0 after one quarter.

West Michigan’s Marcus Smith makes the catch and looks for room to run. Photo/Jason Goorman

The lead increased to 39-0 by halftime as the Ironmen got a safety with an end zone sack, and Whitley threw two TD passes, one to Marcus Smith and one to Carrington Thompson, Sr.

Whitley also added a 6-yard TD run. Not bad for the team’s backup QB.

“This was a good opportunity to get him some looks and some reps,” Smith said of Whitley. “He’s new to the arena game, but he had a great week of practice and played really well.”

The defense scored the next eight points to start the third quarter, when Nick Dekraker recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown, and added a sack in the end zone for another safety.

Marcus Smith and Thompson caught TD passes from Whitley and West Michigan led 63-0 after three quarters.

A four-yard touchdown run by Corey Johnson finished off the scoring in the fourth quarter.

“I’m really proud of how the guys came out here and played,” Coach Smith said. “It could’ve been tough to come out here motivated, but we’ve got a job to do and we played really, really well.”

West Michigan finished the game with 230 total yards, and Whitley was 13-of-21 passing for 174 yards.

Game Summary

WEST MICHIGAN 71, INDIANAPOLIS 0

First Quarter

WM – M. Smith 25 kickoff return (kick good)

WM – D. Smith 3 yard run (kick failed)

Muskegon’s No. 81 Ryan Armstrong brings down the Enforcers’ No. 10 Marcus Richardson. Photo/Leo Valdez

WM – Moore 22 yards from Whitley (kick failed)

West Michigan 19, Indianapolis 0

Second Quarter

WM – M. Smith 9 yards from Whitley (run failed)

WM – safety in end zone

WM – Thompson 38 yards from Whitley (kick failed)

WM – Whitley 6 yard run (run failed)

West Michigan 39, Indianapolis 0

Third quarter

WM – Dekraker fumble recovery in end zone (D. Smith run)

WM – safety in end zone

WM – D. Smith 13 yards from Whitley (kick good)

WM – Thompson 28 yards from Whitley (kick good)

 

West Michigan 63, Indianapolis 0

Fourth quarter

WM – Johnson 4 yard run (Johnson run)

West Michigan 71, Indianapolis 0