PEORIA — The high school football game between Peoria High and Metamora was halted Friday night after a fight in the home grandstands at Peoria Stadium.
Metamora administration later Friday said in a statement that its football team will “not resume the game,” wishing Peoria High “all the best” for the 2022 season, thanking the school’s community for coming out to support the team, and highlighting cooperation with Peoria Police and Peoria Public School’s game management.
Peoria High led the game 34-16 with 8 minutes, 5 seconds remaining in the second quarter when it was initially postponed.
As the fight began, multiple loud, popping sounds were heard near the grandstand, after which Grebner pulled his team off the field. Peoria High players remained on the field, then exited to the locker room soon after.
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Some on social media described the noises as “gunshots,” but the noises were made when a resource officer struck the bleachers with a baton in an attempt to break up the fight, according to Peoria High coach Tim Thornton.
“(The baton) made a noise that was interpreted as something else,” Thornton said, “and kind of caused a panic and everybody took off running.”
Metamora administrators said the “noise created alarm and panic in the stadium,” and that the school’s counseling staff will be available Monday morning for “any student who might be struggling with the events.”
A heavy police presence was in the area of the stadium Friday night, with at least eight police cars arriving minutes after the commotion. Metamora players left the field, with some jumping the fence and gathering in the berm near the visitors’ side of the stadium. Field officials then met on the field with Grebner and Thornton.
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