Flyover, skydiver highlight ‘Sailor Salute’ as Mona Shores holds off Byron Center 14-12

NORTON SHORES, MI — It was a battle of undefeated teams at Sailor Stadium on Friday evening as Mona Shores hosted Byron Center.

It was a special evening as both teams expressed appreciation for veterans, active-duty military personnel, police officers, firefighters and other first responders for the eighth annual "Sailor Salute" game.

A large American flag flew between two firetrucks at the entrance to Mona Shores High School on Sept. 20. The parking lot was filled with law enforcement vehicles that people could explore including a USCG vessel and a Muskegon County SWAT truck.

Players from both teams shook hands with local heroes before the game.

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Tim Van, with Grand Haven Sky Dive, delivered the game ball around 6:30 p.m. and the Hooligans Flight Team buzzed the stadium before kickoff. Fans also watched in awe as a Michigan State Police helicopter also took flight over the stadium during the first quarter.

Mona Shores headed into halftime with a 14-6 lead over Byron Center. Byron Center made things interesting with just over five minutes to play when Bulldogs quarterback Landon Tungate rushed for his second touchdown of the game.

Tungate's two-point conversion pass fell incomplete, give the Sailors a 14-12 edge in the fourth.

Byron Center would have one more late drive that was stopped short after Mona Shores senior Micah Carefelle intercepted Tungate's pass with one minute left in regulation.

After the game-ending heroics, Carefelle greeted a true hero — his grandfather Ron Smith, a Navy veteran who made the trip from Northern Michigan for the "Sailor Salute" game.

Next week Mona Shores heads to Muskegon to take on the Big Reds on Friday, Sept. 27. Byron Center returns home to take on Grand Rapids Union.

MLive photojournalist Joel Bissell was there to document the action, both on and off of the field. Check out photos from the "Sailor Salute" game in the gallery above.for a direct link to the gallery .

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