Will Mettee leads Loyola’s defense and sparks the offense to a thrilling win against Brother Rice

Loyola linebacker Will Mettee is well-known in the Catholic League Blue, but the Boston College recruit isn’t one of the state’s headline stars.

Friday in Wilmette, in the biggest local game of the high school football season so far, up against some of the country’s most highly recruited players, Mettee was the best player on the field. The 6-2, 225-pound linebacker starred on both sides of the ball in top-ranked Loyola’s 27-24 win against No. 6 Brother Rice.

Mettee led the Ramblers’ ferocious defense mentally and emotionally. He contributed a sack and two TFLs and scored two touchdowns, both in completely different ways.

In the first quarter, Brother Rice quarterback Sam Holcomb had the ball stripped, and Mettee grabbed it before it hit the ground and ran 30 yards for a touchdown.

Then late in the fourth quarter with Loyola trailing 17-13, Mettee checked in at fullback and powered through Brother Rice’s vaunted defensive line for a crucial two-yard touchdown on third down.

“That was probably my favorite high school football memory right there,” Mettee said. “Getting the ball on the two-yard line with not a lot of time left to go and making it happen. I’m really proud of myself but mostly proud of my team.”

Mettee expected to get some playing time at fullback this season. Loyola coach John Holecek wants to save that for the big moments.

“In the playoffs he will be there,” Holecek said. “It is a long season, especially in the Catholic League. Mettee is a pure football player. He is strong and conditioned. Boston College is getting a heck of a player.”

Brother Rice (2-2, 0-1 Catholic Blue) responded quickly after Mettee’s touchdown run and took a 24-20 lead with 3:08 left on a 44-yard TD pass from Rocco Galasso to Lucas Strang.

That left the game in the hands of Matthew Lee and the Ramblers’ offense. Lee started the season strong, but this was his first real high-profile, high-pressure Catholic League Blue moment, and he delivered.

Lee connected with Joe Haughey on a 46-yard touchdown to put Loyola (4-0, 1-0) ahead for good with 1:10 left.

“[Lee] was off in the first three quarters,” Holecek said. “I didn’t feel like he was his natural self. In the fourth quarter somehow he gets more comfortable. He thinks less, maybe. He looked like the college quarterback we expect.”

Lee was 17 of 30 passing for 220 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

“We know we are a resilient team,” Lee said. “We are going to battle through adversity, and that is what we did in this game.”

Running back Melo Maldonado’s numbers do not properly represent his contribution to the win. The junior had 22 carries for 75 yards. His quick, daring darts to pick up two and four yards were key plays to keep Loyola’s offense moving. Most running backs would have wound up with negative yardage against Brother Rice’s defensive line on many of those carries.

“[Maldonado] is special and that is a special defense,” Holecek said. “They’ve got dudes everywhere. It was important for him just to get us a little breathing room here and there.”

Brother Rice has played two quarterbacks all season. Holcomb, a freshman, was 9 of 15 passing for 144 yards and two touchdowns. Galasso, a senior, was 9-for-21 for 122 yards and one touchdown.

The Crusaders’ defensive line dominated the first half with four pass deflections. Junior Kam McGee and senior Brayden Parks, a Notre Dame recruit, caused havoc.

“When it mattered the most, we were a little too undisciplined, and some things didn’t go our way that I wish would have,” Brother Rice coach Casey Quedenfeld said. “We had some penalties on us that really hurt. Some penalties that I definitely disagree with. And then [Lee to Haughey] at the end. Great route, great throw. Bad job by us, just undisciplined.”