It was a moment visualized by great competitors: two seconds left on the clock, game on the line, and a chance to score and give your team the win. When Bryant field goal kicker Nick Stoyanovich ’29 lined up to seal the Bryant Football team’s comeback win over North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University on Oct. 3, he not only drew on endless hours of preparation, but a family legacy stretching from backyard kicking competitions with his brothers to the National Football League (NFL).
Stoyanovich’s 25-yard field goal to defeat the Aggies, 31-30, as time expired capped a remarkable comeback that saw the Bulldogs overcome a nine-point deficit in the final minute of the game, highlighted by a 75-yard touchdown drive, a recovered onside kick, and a short but brilliant drive by Bulldogs quarterback Brennan Myer ‘28 to set up the game-winning kick.
"We’ve had a few last-second kicks to win games here in the last three or four years, and the one Nick made is right up there with those efforts," said Head Football Coach Chris Merritt. "Like several other kids in the last two minutes of the game, he exactly what we hoped for, and that was: “execution.”
Stoyanovich says being mobbed by his teammates after the ball sailed through the Bierne Stadium uprights was “the kind of thing you dream about.” It also was a new experience: “This was my first walk-off winner, so it was a great feeling,” he says.
There’s plenty in Stoyanovich’s background to prepare him for big moments like this. For the sophomore Finance major from South Lyon, Michigan, placekicking is the family business.
His father, Bill, was the kicker for Michigan State University in the early 1990s before breaking both of his feet in a game; he later played in the Arena Football League. Stoyanovich’s uncle, Pete, spent 11 years in the NFL, playing for the Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, and St. Louis Rams, finishing his career among the top 35 kickers in league history and, for a time, holding the record for the longest field goal in NFL playoff history.
“There's a high standard with my uncle playing in the NFL and my father being a high Division I player. I want to be great one day, but there's also a lot of pressure,” admits Stoyanovich. “I just want to keep pushing to be the best of my ability.”
“There's a high standard with my uncle playing in the NFL and my father being a high Division I player. I want to be great one day, but there's also a lot of pressure. I just want to keep pushing to be the best of my ability.”
Growing up, Stoyanovich tapped into the two former professional kickers’ accumulated knowledge on the position’s unique physical and mental aspects.
“My uncle Pete told me a lot about the mechanics of kicking, but everyone has a different leg swing, so he told me to just keep doing your thing,” says Stoyanovich.
He also drew inspiration from his father’s ability to bounce back from a devastating injury when he tore his quad muscle practicing with his brothers, sidelining him for six months after graduating high school.
The Stoyanovich kicking pedigree is well-known to Merritt. "His uncle Pete was a teammate of mine at Indiana," where Merritt was punt returner and served as a holder in practice for the future NFL star, he recalls, adding, "Pete’s younger brother, Billy -- Nick’s father -- also kicked me the ball twice in a game when he was at Michigan State."
Booting brothers
Stoyanovich’s father and brothers — William, Alexander, and Jacob — provided him with both challenges and motivation growing up. “Every time we go out to the field, it's very competitive between the four brothers, and it's always making us better,” says Stoyanovich.
The sibling rivalry has paid off all around. William played as a kicker for Madonna University; he’s now the institution's director of football operations and is pursuing his master’s degree. Alexander played two seasons at Colorado State University before transferring to Eastern Illinois University, where he now handles kickoffs and field goals. His youngest brother, Jacob, is a junior at South Lyon High School where he plays linebacker and running back and is among the top kicker recruits in the country.
In addition to his family, Stoyanovich — who can be spotted around campus wearing his Detroit Lions hoodie — counts former Lions kicker Matt Prater among his role models. Stoyanovich’s big game-winning field goal for the Bulldogs may have been a relative chip-shot, but he is also capable of kicking from long distances, which is a requirement if he’s going to reach his goal of playing in the NFL.
Kickers like Prater have mechanics that are “next level,” says Stoyanovich.
“It’s very unique how they hit the ball, how far it goes, and how much leg power they have,” he says. “Kickers in the NFL are now hitting from 70 yards, so gaining more distance is a big part of what I need to do.”
“Kickers in the NFL are now hitting from 70 yards, so gaining more distance is a big part of what I need to do.”
For Stoyanovich, the ultimate edge may come from being part of a family that understands the mentality needed to reach the pinnacle of their sport.
“If you're in your head, it's very hard to get out of it; a positive mindset is the best thing you can have,” he says. “It’s just hard work, keeping your head down, going through practices, doing the best you can, and keeping your eye on the prize.”