Football Hall of Fame

Front Row: Sean Blumenshine, Jon Schlemmer, Luke Maurer, Andy Ruder, Jeremiah Lotz, Nick Pinaire, Anthony Brown, Ryan McCoy, Adam Schertz, Eric Gullet, Trent Delinski, David Lewis, Kyle DuBois.

2nd Row: Tim McCumber, Anthony Mullins, Andy Kamm, Chad Hirst, David Heller, Joe Cook, Kenny Robertson, Tyler Barrow, Tyler O’Neil, Danny Adamss, John Waldschmidt, Jack Dansart, Bob Zimmerman, Justin Springer.

3rd Row: Kyle Dentino, Derek Schusselle, David Fay, Jared Frye, Justin Markle, Cody Roe-Beard, Coach Curt Ryan, Coach Bob Schlemmer, Coach Tom Guenther, Head Coach Pat Ryan, Coach Joe Blessman, Coach Nick Delinski, Student Coach Mike Deckler, Matt Sharick, John Mischler, Joe Stamm, Chris Schertz.

Back Row: Jake Ioerger, Derek Schluter, Chris Schertz, Andy Filson, Adam Gangloff, Chris Worrick, Bob Kochendorfer, Jeff Ricketts, Zak Parr, Ryan Otto, Jason Long, Aaron Lyon, Mark Schults, Chris Funk, Mike Kjormoe, Zack Bitner, Chris Knoblauch.

Pat Ryan’s third team to make it to the state finals had to navigate a difficult path. The Mid-Illini Conference was loaded with talent, as Canton had perhaps its best team in school history. Metamora managed to squeak out a 33-23 win at Canton in week four and finished the league schedule unbeaten for its fifth straight conference title.

A week nine loss at Richwoods sent Metamora into the playoffs with question marks, but the Redbirds were up to the challenge in the postseason. The first three rounds all brought difficulties, but saw Metamora pull out victories. The semifinal win at unbeaten Normal Community, 41-14, was a thing of beauty ad gave Redbird fans hope headed into the finals at the University of Illinois. Joliet Catholic, the opponent in the title game, was severely talented and soundly defeated Metamora, 48-13, to give the Redbirds their third runner-up trophy in the last four years.