# Adam Schilling's comeback season > A year after tearing his knee, Wheaton North's two-way star leads the Falcons' surprising undefeated run. - Title: Adam Schilling's comeback season · Chicago Sun-Times - Summary: A year after tearing his knee, Wheaton North's two-way star leads the Falcons' surprising undefeated run. Schilling's return from a Grade 2 PCL tear has made… - Keywords: adam schilling, wheaton north, high school football, knee injury recovery, dukane conference, tight end, linebacker, mac murray, joe wardynski, st. charles east, illinois high school sports, news - Source: Chicago Sun-Times — https://chicago.suntimes.com/high-school-football/2026/09/17/adam-schilling-wheaton-north-football - Published: 2026-09-17T16:22:40.797+00:00 - Read time: 2 min - Topics: adam schilling, wheaton north, high school football, knee injury recovery, dukane conference, tight end, linebacker, mac murray, joe wardynski, st. charles east, illinois high school sports, news ## 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. ## Key takeaway Schilling's return from a Grade 2 PCL tear has made him central to Wheaton North's unexpected 4-0 start in a tough conference.