'The Big Guy' helps clear the way for Metamora's big win over Dunlap

METAMORA — Ben Wallace celebrated the next step on his football journey earlier in the week with a college offer, then helped clear a path to victory Friday for Metamora.

The 6-foot-4, 300-pound offensive left tackle, known since second grade as "The Big Guy", led a line that blew open holes for quarterback Connor Willerton and running back Ethan Petri on the way to a 45-14 victory over Dunlap in a key Mid-Illini Conference game at Malone Field.

It was a dominating ground-and-pound performance by the Metamora offense as it scored touchdowns on four of its first five possessions through three quarters, the lone stop coming from the clock when halftime arrived.

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"We came intending to execute our plan, and we did exactly that," said Wallace, a junior. "A lot of people wondered over the summer about this offensive line, whether it could be rebuilt after losing so many players."

An offer from Illinois State

That line answered those questions Friday. And Wallace found an answer for his career earlier in the week. He announced he's received an offer from Illinois State.

"When you wonder if you can play at the next level, it's all you ask yourself, and then you get an offer from a D-1 school and you know that means you can play it," Wallace said. "It's so exciting. They texted with me during the week, told me they had some great news for me. To get that call, it's just amazing."

Wallace grew up playing JFL football in Metamora. The Redbirds sideline Friday night was filled with teammates who've been alongside since second grade.

"I've always been 'The Big Guy' or 'Big Ben' since we were kids," Wallace said. "I've played with some of these guys since we were in second grade. It's hard to imagine not playing with them.

"Those guys have always been there for me, and my parents have always been there for me, and they are a big part of me."

How Metamora pulled away from Dunlap

Willerton took Metamora's second snap of the game and raced 43 yards around the right edge for a 6-0 lead.

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Petri powered over tackle from the 3, and Willerton ran for a two-point conversion for 14-0 with 4:26 left in the first quarter.

Dunlap, coming off an upset of state-ranked Washington last week, managed just 31 yards on 13 plays in the first quarter.

Metamora surged ahead 22-0 when Petri crashed up the middle for an 11-yard scoring run, with Willerton again scrambling in for a two-point conversion with 5:06 left in the first half.

The first four plays of that seven-play, 79-yard drive produced chunk yardage as Petri ran for 11 and 14, Solomon Schwarz caught a pass for 12 and Garrett Taylor ran for 16.

Dunlap (2-3, 1-2) got on the board with a 25-yard touchdown catch by Graham Glover with 79 seconds left in the half.

The Redbirds opened the second half with runs of 23 from Petri and 21 and 13 from Willerton before the quarterback finished with a carry from the 1 for a 30-7 lead with 8:51 left.

Taylor killed Dunlap's answering possession with a 50-yard pick-6 for a 38-7 lead with 7:48 left in the third quarter.

Metamora dominated up front

Metamora ran 31 times for 286 yards and four touchdowns. Nine of those 31 runs produced at least 11 yards. Willerton had two of scores on 10 carries for 141 yards, while Petri had two scores on 10 carries for 89 yards.

"Wallace and all the offensive line guys did a tremendous job," Metamora coach Jared Grebner said. "We were pretty confident about what we could do. "And it was nice we could have this kind of effort in front of our 1976 and 1977 teams as they got inducted into our Hall of Fame tonight."

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Willerton, on the sideline late in the game, said to coaches "This offense is just great."

The night started with the potential of a five-team tie for first place in the Mid-Illini Conference. It ended with Metamora alone at the top with a 3-0 conference mark and 5-0 overall record.

As for Wallace, is focus was in the right place at Malone Field. 

"College football is for the future," he said. "I'm playing high school football right now. And next week we play against Morton."

Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. Reach him at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @icetimecleve.