The high school football game between Peoria High and Metamora was stopped after a fight broke out in the home bleachers.
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, and thanking its community for coming out to support the team.
The game was initially postponed after a chaotic sequence of events that began in the home crowd. Multiple loud, popping sounds were heard as a fight began, after which the Metamora team was taken off the field by their coach. The players left the field and went to the locker room.
The first week of high school football is over.
The noises were made when a resource officer struck the bleachers with a baton in an attempt to break up the fight.
Thornton said that the baton made a noise that was interpreted as something else, causing a panic and everyone to run.
Friday's events continued into Saturday. There is a football game on Sunday. There will be limited spectators for the Notre Dame and Manual game. Each player, cheerleader and dance team member will be able to have two guests. PND said that no other fans would be allowed into the building.
The school's counseling staff will be on hand Monday for any student who might be struggling with the events of Friday.
There was a large police presence in the vicinity of the stadium Friday night. Some players jumped the fence and gathered in the berm near the visitors' side of the stadium after leaving the field. The officials met on the field.
The top performances from the first week of high school football in Peoria.
About a third of the original crowd remained after fans were told to clear the stadium. The game was not played at that time.
The Peoria High Metamora game was postponed due to a fight in the crowd.
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