The argument grew more heated than intended.
South Lyon junior tailback Jacob Stoyanovich lay on a table in concussion protocol surrounded by coaches and trainers who encouraged him to sit out the second half of Friday’s District Final against South Lyon East.
Stoyanovich grew irritated and angry and told them in no uncertain terms he was not leaving the game. He yelled back and took a firm stand and stayed in the game.
“I got hit pretty hard in the endzone. I’m not going to lie,” Stoyanovich said. “I was seeing stars. But this is our rival. I never want to leave a game any way, but yeah I really wanted to stay in the game.”
He went from seeing stars to being a star in South Lyon’s 50-32 victory over East.
“I think I need to go apologize to some people,” Stoyanovich said.
The argument was that heated.
But all is forgiven. Stoyanovich rushed for 171 yards and three touchdowns as South Lyon overcame a 10-point deficit to turn this game into a blowout. Now the Lions (9-2) travel to Milford (10-1) in a Friday regional semifinal.
Milford and South Lyon tied for the Lakes Valley Conference title with matching 7-1 records. The Lions crushed Milford 49-18 in the regular season. The teams tied because South Lyon suffered a stunning 44-38 overtime loss to North Farmington.
South Lyon, which switched from a spread offense to the Wing-T this season, cannot be stopped offensively. Ten different players have rushed for touchdowns this season led by Tyler Newton’s 16 scores.
Newton was another player who looked like he might get pulled from Friday’s game. He fumbled on the second play of the game, leading to an East touchdown, but he recovered to run for 152 yards on 11 carries and two touchdowns.
The Lions rushed for 369 yards as East wilted against the Lions punishing offensive line.
The Lions score in a variety of ways. They can ground and pound. They can quick strike opponents in the passing game. Rylen Oja got his seventh interception on the year. Then it turned into South Lyon’s fourth pick six of the season.
Running back/linebacker Gannon Limotte is an Eastern Michigan commit at outside linebacker, who averages 15 yard a carry and ran for a 34-yard touchdown Friday, but is an afterthought in the Lions offense.
Stoyanovich said the crowded running back room is a good thing for South Lyon.
"We are all electric and we all know that whenever someone needs a break the next guy is going to step up and do the job and get it done," he said. "That's what we did tonight."