Milwaukee County Chargers earn overtime win over Muskego

There's still six weeks to play in the Midstates Football League regular season, but the playoff race is already taking shape.

The Milwaukee County Chargers helped their playoff chances July 16 by pulling out a 27-20 overtime win over the Muskego Hitmen.

Chargers strike first

After dropping their first two games, the Chargers have won two straight to pull into a tie with Muskego for the third and final playoff spot from the Northern Division.

Three plays into Muskego's opening drive, Charger linebacker Steve Vitale intercepted a pass and returned it to the Muskego 11-yard line. The turnover led to a 9-yard touchdown pass from Shannon King to Jordan Cosby to put Milwaukee County up 7-0.

Late in the first quarter, the Chargers were backed up on their own 1-yard line. Shaq Russel was tackled in the end zone after catching a pass from King, giving Muskego a safety.

On the ensuing Hitmen drive, defensive end Mike Miller recovered a fumble by Muskego running back Trey York and returned it for a touchdown to put the Chargers up 14-2.

Hitmen grab control, Chargers tie it

Two Charger turnovers helped Muskego score 16 unanswered points to take a 18-14 halftime lead.

The Hitmen extended their lead to 21-14 on their second drive of the third quarter with a 28-yard field goal. Milwaukee County immediately answered to tie the game at 21-21 when King hit Duce Johnson for a 66-yard touchdown.

Neither team scored in the fourth quarter, sending the game to overtime.

King's sneak wins it

The MSFL uses NFL overtime rules where only a touchdown would end the game on the first drive of the extra session.

The Chargers won the coin toss and started on their own 15-yard line. King hit Auton Terry for 24 yards and Cosby for 9 yards to move the ball to the 48-yard line.

On 3rd and 1, Rashawn Herron rumbled for 17 yards to the Hitmen 35-yard line. King then connected with Derrick McCall for 19 yards.

After Herron brought the ball to the 1-yard line with a 15-yard run, King scored the winning touchdown on a quarterback sneak off left guard.

Milwaukee County and Muskego are tied for third place in the Northern Division at 2-2. The Racine Raiders lead the division at 4-0 followed by Door County at 3-1. The Racine Threat are in fifth place at 1-3, and Sheboygan is in last place at 0-4.

The top three teams of each of the league's two divisions make the postseason.

The Chargers will host the Racine Threat at 7 p.m. July 23 at Hart Park in Wauwatosa.