By Terry Foster
South Lyon players sprinted toward the north end zone gates following a tougher than expected 31-21 victory over Milford to celebrated with adoring fans, family and students.
One Lion cub did not make it.
Senior quarterback Braden Fracassi did a wicked sprint-limp combo as he tried to join them.
"I am cramping," he screamed.
The celebration can wait. Several of his teammates doubled back to help their stricken comrade.
That's the South Lyon way. One for all and all for one.
They play basketball and baseball together. They eat in the school cafeteria together. And they pick one another up when somebody falls.
Teammates picked up Fracassi earlier when he threw a tipped interception that gave Milford life. South Lyon led 14-0 when Tyler Freer picked off Fracassi. A few players later running back Peyton Chamberlain caught a nine-yard touchdown pass to trim the score to 14-7 at the half.
It was a devastating turn of events, but South Lyon refused to cave.
Although there were a few chuckles when linebacker Simeon Mardossian tossed his cookies near midfield, teammates made sure he was OK when he finally returned to the sidelines.
No, it was not the shrimp.
The Lions (1-1) are still trying to figure out how to be in good enough shape to get through this grind called the Lakes Valley Conference.
In the season opener four key players cramped so badly that they were unable to play the last quarter and a half against Walled Lake Western. Western took advantage and turned a 31-26 lead into a laugher by scoring the game's final 16 points.
"It's a mindset," Donovan said. "We've got a lot of juniors and we have a lot of kids on offense and defense going both ways. They are not used to it. But they are adapting. I saw that it was way better this week than it was last week. That's for sure."
Lions coach Jeff Henson is looking for any tips to avoid cramping. He's had players drink pickle juice, drown themselves in water and has worked them harder in practice.
This time cramping did not cost them a ball game. That's because Donovan was nearly unstoppable. He recorded nearly 200 yards of total offense.
He is still motivated to win the LVC despite the loss to Western. And he's motivated to get bigger schools to give him a chance. He is a verbal commit to Illinois State but hopes Michigan State or Navy come calling.
On one of his runs a Milford defender had him in his clutches and nearly brought Donovan to the ground. But he kept his legs churning and carved out a 21-yard gain.
"It's that instinct," Donovan said. "They were talking about us and some kids take that personal. Every play I'm taking you down. I am beating you, me and my teammates. I'm going to be the most competitive kid on the field and I am not going to let you win."
That sums up the South Lyon way.
The Lions are also a bit stubborn. Although they lost to Western who is in the driver's seat in the LVC, Henson has not given up hope of a championship run.
"There are seven more games to go," Henson said. "A lot can happen. It's like last year. A lot of teams were up and down. Even us at times It's high school football. Anything can happen."