If you want to get a sense of the confidence that Lincoln-Way Central has developed this season in kicker Drew Schiller, look no further than Braden Meyer, his holder.

A fellow senior, Meyer has witnessed Schiller’s perfection in field goals and extra points. And that doesn’t cover kickoffs and punting, which always seem to pin down opponents.

“When we go out there, we’re coming back with points,” said Meyer, who also plays wide receiver for the Knights. “I get the snap, it’s right on the money, and the rest is Drew.”

Win or lose, Lincoln-Way Central (4-1, 1-0) has been able to count on Drew.

The 6-foot-1, 165-pound Schiller has made all eight field-goal attempts, with his longest being a pair of 47-yarders. One came Sept. 9 at Illinois State as the Knights beat O’Fallon 27-10. It was significant because college goal posts are six feet narrower than high school.

For the record, that kick split the uprights, but it wasn’t without trepidation.

“It started outside of the upright,” Schiller recalled. “There was a little wind that helped blow it back in. Without the wind, it still goes in because there was a nice cutback on it.

“Halfway through the ball flight, I was like, ‘It’s good.’”

Schiller also has been a perfect 17-for-17 on extra points. Not bad, right?

Now consider that in addition to playing football, he’s also a central defender and captain for the boys soccer team under coach David Brown.

Of course, there are a lot of logistics for Schiller, and while it’s not always easy, anything worth having is worth working toward.

“There is a fine balance,” he said. “Most of our soccer practices are in the morning, and in the afternoon is football. The days are really long, but my coaches help make it easier.”

Schiller has played soccer virtually his entire life but only took up football in eighth grade, when he caught the eye of a coach from the Frankfort Falcons youth program.

By his junior year in football, he had overcome an injury suffered as sophomore in soccer. He became the starter for all special teams — field goals, extra points, kickoffs and punting.

Schiller has excelled in every aspect, according to first-year football coach Dave Woodburn, and that has created the confidence that has carried over to this season.

“If we get the ball to the 30,” Woodburn said, “we’re confident in bringing out our field goal team.”

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“You can’t coach against a good kicker,” Meyer said. “It’s good having that backup, knowing we’re going to get points.”

The big kicks are already piling up for Schiller.

He easily connected on a crucial extra point that forced overtime against rival Lincoln-Way West, a Sept. 15 a game that saw the Knights rally from a 21-0 deficit in the first half. They ultimately lost 28-21, but still, there would not have been OT without Schiller.

Schiller, who trains with renowned Chicago-area kicking coach Chris Nendick, said his plan is to play football in college. Schiller is working to establish his name, reaching out to college coaches on his own and sending them game film.

Keep in mind, that’s all on top of playing two sports and going to school. He also said youngsters who are thinking about getting into the kicking game should have a plan as well.

“Find a coach near you and how to get consistent contact and good technique as a kicker,” he said. “If you can learn that at a young age, the quicker you start, the better you’ll be.”

Gregg Voss is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.