MUSKEGON – Danny Hugan II is just too explosive to sit on the bench too much.

The West Michigan Ironmen rookie did a lot of that in his first two games with the team this season. That’s because he’s the backup to longtime quarterback Alex Carder, and Carder is really good.

So Hugan bided his time, playing and scoring when he could, like late in the first game of the season when he took some mop-up snaps at quarterback and scored two rushing touchdowns in the Ironmen’s victory over the Ohio Blitz.

His big chance finally came a month ago, when the Ironmen hosted the Southern Michigan Apex in their third game of the season.

Veteran receiver Keondre Banks-Craig missed that game while getting a tryout with a team in a higher league, so Hugan, who spent more time as a receiver than a quarterback in college, started in his place.

He took full advantage of the opportunity, catching an impressive four touchdown passes from Carder in the Ironmen’s 86-45 victory. He had the first TD catch of the game and the last one and finished with five receptions for 87 yards.

“It was pretty fun,” said Hugan, 27, who grew up in Ann Arbor, still lives there, and makes the long drive for Ironmen practices and games. “I had a great time. It felt natural playing receiver. I had a good couple of practices, me and Alex connected, and he told me to just go out there and have a day.

“I like to call myself an athlete. I can pretty much play anywhere the team needs me to play. Whatever the team needs is pretty much what I’ll do. I played receiver from little league to college to now.”

Now Hugan figures to see more playing time as the Ironmen, 3-0, begin their quest for a Great Lakes Arena Football league championship on Saturday night at home. They will play the Ohio Blitz again in a playoff semifinal game at Trinity Health Arena, with the winner advancing to the league championship game on May 20.

“We’re very excited,” Hugan said about the playoffs. “We’ve been practicing very hard and we’re ready to play and bring a championship to West Michigan. It’s the biggest goal we have as a team.”

Hugan is one of many arena football players who came to the eight-man indoor sport after a lengthy career in traditional 11-man football.

He played at several high schools around the Ann Arbor area, then finished his college career at Alma College, where he was mostly a receiver.

He played professional football overseas in Turkey before coming home and looking for opportunities in the U.S. He said he was close to hanging up the cleats when he learned about the Ironmen from fellow receiver Sterling Alexander, tried out for the team and made it as a backup quarterback.

Most of his prior experience as a QB was in youth league and high school football.

“I was skeptical at first about whether I wanted to play football again, but I had a good time and made the team,” Hugan said. “I like arena football. I like the speed. I think it translates well to my skills. It allows me to showcase my abilities. It’s mostly just passing the ball.”

Hugan said he wasn’t impatient for more playing time because he understood that his primary role was to back up Carder, a standout quarterback who has been healthy and playing great.

“I’m a rookie,” he said. “That’s how it is for rookies. Alex does a great job, he’s a great quarterback, and I’m his backup who plays whenever I have an opportunity to come in.”

Ironmen Coach Nate Smith was happy when Hugan provided the team with another dangerous receiver and was not surprised when he did so well in his first start.

“We knew when brought him in that he’s a very athletic guy,” Smith said. “It’s Carder’s team, and we said to Danny, this was a great opportunity for him to come here and back up a guy who can teach him the indoor game as good as anybody who has ever played indoor.

“We knew he played receiver in college and when you look at some of the stats, he put up some numbers there. Then he had an opportunity to step in for us. The beauty of him also being a quarterback is that he already knew what all of his routes were going to be. He just jumped in and played.

“You’ve got to keep these guys engaged. Guys like him want to play somewhere.”

Hugan said he’s always been inspired to excel on the football field by his mother, Regina Bond, a resident of Ann Arbor.

“I get all of my inspiration from my mom,” he said. “She’s been a big part of me playing football. She’s a single parent and has a lot on her plate, but she’s been there for me every step of the way. She came to all of my games, ever since I played in little league.”

Hugan said his mom has yet to see an Ironmen game in person because of the lengthy drive between Ann Arbor and Muskegon, but said that will change soon – provided that the Ironmen win on Saturday night.

“She will be there for the championship game!” he said.