JUMPING JUNGLE
South Lyon establishes itself as team to beat in LVC
The Jungle is jumping. Barring any upsets, the Lions are set to be kings of the gridiron once again.
Heading down the stretch of the 2021 prep football season, South Lyon is 5-0 and in first place out of the Lakes Valley Conference.
Most pundits slotted the Lions third in their preseason LVC projections, behind defending champion Lakeland and another high-wattage Walled Lake Western squad. Now, they’re in the driver’s seat.
“This is a team with experience, playmakers at the skill positions and a line that has exceeded expectations,” South Lyon head coach Jeff Henson said. “We have 15 returning starters, our junior varsity team went undefeated last fall, so we knew we had the chance to be pretty good. We’re balanced and we’re playing smart, tough football.”
To open the season back in August, South Lyon dispatched Western 48-28. Last week, the Lions took care of Lakeland in a high-scoring 49-35 battle for lone possession of first place in the league race.
Senior quarterback Dawson Skupin (13 touchdown passes) is showing surgical precision in operating the Lions offense, making sweet music in the passing game with senior receivers Quinn Fracassi and Zack Ford. Hard-nosed junior tailback Tommy Donovan has been a reliable presence rushing the rock in the backfield.
Veteran tackle Tyler O’Connor captains the interior line play, and has been integral in successfully transitioning four new starters into the mix alongside him in the trenches. Dakota Blackwell is one of the best cover corners in the area on defense. He has four interceptions this season.
Fracassi, who is called, “The
“Quinn Fracassi has raised his level of play so much, it’s scary how dangerous he can be on every touch.”
Question,” (as in, ‘How do we stop this guy?’), is one of the most electrifying talents in metro Detroit this fall, both on offense and special teams returning kicks.
“Quinn has raised his level of play so much, it’s scary how dangerous he can be on every touch,” Henson said. “The kid is such a competitor. In the offseason, he hit the weight room and played on 7-on-7 teams with some of the most elite recruits in the state. Those two things combined took him to a whole other level. He was always fast and elusive. Now, he’s faster, stronger and more confident than ever.”
— South Lyon head coach Jeff Henson