Full circle moment for Schilling

Exactly one year after his season ended against St. Charles East, Adam Schilling is back as a senior and facing the same opponent this Friday.

The injury that ended his junior year

On the last play against St. Charles East, Schilling took a wrong step on a pass route and suffered a Grade 2 PCL tear, sidelining him for 2-3 months.

Wheaton North's surprising turnaround

The Falcons are 4-0 after back-to-back losing seasons and are the only unbeaten team left in the DuKane Conference.

Schilling's two-way dominance

The 6-5 senior has eight catches for 210 yards and four touchdowns on offense, plus 17 tackles and two tackles for loss at inside linebacker.

Coach's assessment of his star

Coach Joe Wardynski calls Schilling the team's best football player, praising his physicality, intelligence, hands, and athleticism for a big kid.

“Schilling is our best football player. He is a physical kid, smart, he has great hands.”

From receiver to two-way threat

Schilling has been a tight end and receiver since freshman year, using his wingspan to shed blocks and run past defenders while improving his blocking technique.

Blocking became his priority

After a meeting with the offensive coordinator at the end of sophomore year, Schilling committed to the weight room and developing his blocking skills across different techniques.

“They knew I could catch balls but my blocking was where I needed to improve.”

Comparison to former star

Schilling has a similar length and build to former Wheaton North standout Ross Dansdill, now at Holy Cross, but Wardynski says Schilling is more athletic.

Scholarship puzzle for coaches

At 215 pounds and running well, Schilling has no scholarship offers, which Wardynski finds shocking given his talent level.

“He's 215 pounds, runs well and has no scholarship offers. It's kind of mind boggling to me.”

Running back Mac Murray's impact

Senior running back Mac Murray has rushed for 616 yards and nine touchdowns, including a 200-yard performance in a win over Lake Park.

Depth challenges in the DuKane

Wheaton North lacks enough linemen in junior and senior classes to field a JV team, the only school in the league in this position, forcing a switch to a 3-4 defense.

Soft schedule masks real test ahead

The Falcons' first four opponents hold a combined 4-12 record, but they still face Batavia, Geneva, and Wheaton-Warrenville South in the final four weeks.

Schilling's warning to teammates

The senior cautions against complacency, saying the team must improve daily as they face increasingly difficult opponents down the stretch.

“We can't be content. The teams we are going to face are increasingly difficult.”

Falcons enter Super 25 rankings

Wheaton North broke into the Super 25 this week after beating St. Charles North, validating their surprising start to the season.