Adam Schilling could be forgiven for feeling a full circle moment this week.
It was this Friday last year, against the same opponent, that the Wheaton North tight end/linebacker’s season ended. On the last play of the game against St. Charles East, Schilling took a wrong step on a pass route. A Grade 2 PCL tear put Schilling in a knee brace for 2-3 months, and ended his season. His was one of a rash of injuries that sunk the Falcons.
Schilling, now a senior, is back. Wheaton North appears to be as well.
The Falcons, coming off back-to-back losing seasons, are 4-0. They are the lone unbeaten left in the DuKane Conference. This Friday they host 3-1 St. Charles East in a matchup of surprise teams.
“I have thought about it, what happened to me in this game last year,” Schilling said.
Wheaton North is swimming against a current in one of the state’s toughest leagues. Program numbers are not where they need to be. The Falcons do not have enough linemen in the junior and senior classes to play JV, the only school in the league not doing so. A lack of linemen depth predicated a switch to a 3-4 defense from its usual 40 front.
The Falcons do have skill.
Senior running back Mac Murray has rushed for 616 yards and nine touchdowns, and went over 200 yards in a win over Lake Park.
And Schilling, 6-5 and also a basketball player, has eight catches for 210 yards and four TDs, with 17 tackles and two tackles for loss at inside linebacker.
“Schilling is our best football player,” Wheaton North coach Joe Wardynski said. “He is a physical kid, smart, he has great hands. If we were throwing the ball more we’d be throwing to him a bunch. He has been a great blocker for us in the run game.
“He is very athletic for a big kid. He’s athletic, he can bend, he is explosive. We have not had very many better than him.”
Schilling was a tight end/receiver going back to freshman year. His wingspan helps in the passing game and shedding blocks and he can run past defenders.
He’s made strides as a blocker.
“I remember I had a meeting with our offensive coordinator end of sophomore year, and blocking was a big priority,” Schilling said. “They knew I could catch balls but my blocking was where I needed to improve. Got in the weight room, got stronger. I’ve continued to see growth with blocking, working on all different types of techniques.”
Schilling, who has moved from outside linebacker to inside, has a similar length and build to former Wheaton North star Ross Dansdill, now at Holy Cross, but Wardynski said Schilling’s more athletic.
“He’s 215 pounds, runs well and has no scholarship offers. It’s kind of mind boggling to me,” Wardynski said. “I am shocked that some of these D2 schools are not offering.”
Wheaton North, which broke into the Super 25 this week after beating St. Charles North, has work to do to continue its fast start.
The Falcons’ first four opponents currently hold a combined 4-12 record. They still have Batavia, Geneva and Wheaton-Warrenville South the last four weeks.
“We can’t be content,” Schilling said. “The teams we are going to face are increasingly difficult. We have to get better day in and day out.”
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