MUSKEGON – Local fans were tired of the West Michigan Ironmen winning one-sided indoor football games against inferior opponents in recent years, and longed to see a close, exciting game.

They certainly got that on Saturday night, and if it weren’t for the Ironmen’s Alje Butler, the fans would have witnessed a heartbreaking loss.

The Ironmen led by four points and had the ball with about a minute left in the game. But they failed to get a first down and turned the ball over to the visiting Charlotte Thunder with about 25 seconds remaining.

The Thunder made little progress on their first two plays, but managed to get a snap off as the horn sounded to end the game.

But football games can’t end with a play in progress, and Charlotte quarterback Jalen McClendon completed a pass to Daniel Bender around the Ironmen 15, and he made it to the West Michigan 5-yard line – just a burst away from scoring the winning points – before Butler ran him down and tacked him to preserve a thrilling 55-51 victory.

Ironmen receiver Sterling Alexander hauls in a catch. Photo/Tonya Pardon

The big crowd gasped when the pass was caught, then roared when Butler made the game-saving stop.

“Honestly, I never give up,” Butler said. “Even if there is zero minutes on the clock. I don’t care. I’m here for it all. Honestly, I was thinking ‘Get your butt down there and make a tackle to save the game.’ It was amazing. Just a great team win for us.”

Ironmen Coach Nate Smith said Butler is the type of player to come through in that type of desperate situation.

“I’m thinking, we got to get there (to make the tackle), and Aljje made a hell of a play, like he always does,” Smith said. “There was no surprise that he made that play.”

Besides Butler, the biggest hero of the game was rooking receiver Sterling Alexander, who just broke into the world of arena football after graduating from Concordia University in Minnesota.

West Michigan’s Anthony Younger hugs teammate Sterling Alexander after one of his four touchdown catches. Photo/Tonya Pardon

Alexander caught four touchdown passes, including two in the crucial fourth quarter to give the Ironmen the points they needed to preserve the win.

His third TD catch came with 12:08 left in the game, when things were not going well for West Michigan.

The Ironmen started the fourth quarter with a 41-38 lead and were driving for another score when quarterback Alex Carder threw an interception in the end zone.

Charlotte got the ball at its own 5-yard line and drove for a touchdown to take its first lead, 45-41, with 4:23 remaining.

The Ironmen started their next drive at their own 20, and Carder connected with Alexander on the first play from scrimmage. He caught the pass around the Charlotte 15 and battled his way into the end zone, giving West Michigan a 47-45 lead.

West Michigan quarterback Alex Carder drops back to pass. Photo/Tonya Pardon

The Ironmen got a huge break on the ensuing kickoff when Carder, who also does the placekicking for West Michigan, drilled a line drive kick into the Charlotte end zone.

For a reason nobody may ever understand, a Charlotte player tossed the ball out of the back of the end zone, resulting in a safety and giving the Ironmen a 49-45 lead.

“You can’t blame the guy just trying to make a play, but I was shocked and surprised,” Coach Smith said.

Charlotte had to kick off after the safety, the Ironmen got the ball back at the Charlotte 15 after a bad kick, and Alexander caught his fourth TD pass with 56 seconds remaining, giving the Ironmen a 55-45 lead.

Those points gave West Michigan its winning margin.

“I knew we needed a big play,” Alexander said. “We called the play and I knew it was coming to me. I just did what I had to do.”

Alex Carder lines up to kick an extra point for the Ironmen. Photo/Tonya Pardon

Alexander said he was thrilled with his big game in his first outing with the Ironmen.

“I’ve been waiting for this my whole life,” he said. “I’ve been putting work in my whole life. It showed today. Me and my teammates made it happen.”

The rookie receiver gave a lot of credit to Carder, a veteran QB who has delivered a lot of wins for the Ironmen over the years.

“He’s incredible,” Alexander said. “He’s been through a lot. He’s a really smart guy and he really reminds me of Tom Brady. We practice how we play and those plays we ran today were just like practice.”

The game seemed over at that point, but Charlotte scored a TD with 56 seconds remaining when quarterback McClendon threw a 15-yard scoring pass to Scooby Bryant, making the score 55-51.

The Ironmen got the ball back but turned it over on downs, and Charlotte had one more chance and very nearly stole the game, before Butler made his game-saving tackle.

“It’s great,” Coach Smith said about playing a strong opponent and getting a win. “We were tested. We were tested mentally, physically, offensively and defensively. At the end, all the arena rules started to come into play. Coaching with that mindset, it’s a completely different game.

“Hats off to Charlotte, they’re a hell of a football team, but I’m really proud of our guys tonight.”

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Quarter

1:48-WM: Alex Carder six-yard touchdown pass to Mike Wynn (Carder PAT good) 7-0

7:07-WM: Alex Carder 39-yard touchdown pass to Sterling Alexander (Carder PAT no good) 13-0

11:07-CHA: Jalen McClendon two-yard touchdown run (Amaya PAT no good) 13-6

2nd Quarter

2:27-CHA: Jamal Tillman seven-yard touchdown run (Amaya PAT good) 13-13

6:06-WM: Alex Carder 19-yard touchdown pass to Sterling Alexander (Carder PAT good) 20-13

14:32-CHA: Jalen McClendon three-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Bender (Tillman 2-pt conversion good) 21-20

14:55-WMC: Alex Carder four-yard touchdown pass to Keyondre Banks-Craig (Carder to Sterling Alexander 2-pt conversion good) 28-21

3rd Quarter

3:59-WM: Alex Carder two-yard touchdown pass to John Ross (Carder PAT good) 35-21

8:00-CHA: Jalen McClendon 32-yard touchdown run (Amaya PAT good) 35-28

10:48-WM: Alex Carder 14-yard touchdown run (Carder PAT blocked and returned for two Charlotte points) 41-30

12:38-CHA: Jalen McClendon 35-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Bender (Tillman two-point conversion good) 41-38

4th Quarter

10:37-CHA: Jalen McClendon five-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Bender (Amaya PAT good) 45-41

12:09-WM: Alex Carder 30-yard touchdown pass to Sterling Alexander (PAT no good) 47-45

13:05-WM: Charlotte safety on kickoff 49-45

14:04-WM: Alex Carder five-yard touchdown pass to Sterling Alexander (2-point conversion no good)

14:16-CHA: Jalen McClendon 15-yard touchdown pass to Scooby Bryant (2-point conversion no good) 55-51100