We’ve fallen asleep on the bitter rivalry taking place every year when South Lyon takes on cross town rival South Lyon East.
Part of the reason is we keep our eyes focused on Howell-Brighton and to a lesser extent Linden-Fenton. Those two games often decide conference champions along with fostering bragging rights for the winner,
South Lyon coach Jeff Henson always thought the South Lyon SLE game was special even when his team won 13 of 14 games while East gained its footing as a new school and new kid on the block.
Games are much more competitive as the two rivals attempt to out tough one another during games often decided by the better running attack. East (4-4) has won the last three contests. South Lyon won the five before that.
This game – the WHMI-FM game of the week Friday at South Lyon -- matters also. South Lyon, champion of the Lakes Valley Conference – is attempting to put the finishing touches on an undefeated season. East (4-4) is trying to sneak into the MHSAA state playoffs with a win.
“It’s East. We don’t have to say anything,” Henson said. “They’ve had our number the last couple of years. (SLE coach) Jacob (Topp) does a great job over there. His kids are tough. They play physical. I thought this game had juice 16 years ago.”
What makes this game special is most of the players played pee wee football together, went to class together in middle school and then separated in high school.
“They are fighting with friends,“ Henson said.
It is knuckleheads such as myself who fall asleep with what is going on in South Lyon. I love the Brighton-Howell rivalry where the two teams punch each other in the face one Friday every year. Then there is Fenton-Linden where Fenton usually wins but not before dodging a high scoring high wire act against the Eagles.
This year Fenton avenged a Linden playoff thumping from last year by beating the Eagles 46-41 after overcoming a 15-point second half deficit.
“It’s all about toughness,” Henson said of the South Lyon-South Lyon East rivalry. “That’s the way its been. The tougher team wins.”
South Lyon has been the tougher team all season having outscored its eight opponents 338-95. That included victories over Walled Lake Western and Waterford Mott, teams that trounced South Lyon East.
East might not be the tougher team now. But is it the more desperate team? A victory likely gets East into the playoffs.
South Lyon is on a roll that should continue into next season. The Lions junior class has never lost a game. The current junior varsity team has only lost one game and the freshmen just twice.
“We are definitely ready for this,” Hanson said.