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Pennsbury's superfan an inspiration

David Schilling is no bandwagon Pennsbury football fan. The 16-year-old, who was born with cerebral palsy and gets around in a wheelchair, has been a regular at Falcons games for the last nine years.

Pennsbury players Charles Snorweah, Luke Snyder and Raheem Thompson talk to 16-year-old "superfan" David Schilling. (Lou Rabito/Staff)
Pennsbury players Charles Snorweah, Luke Snyder and Raheem Thompson talk to 16-year-old "superfan" David Schilling. (Lou Rabito/Staff)Read more

David Schilling is no bandwagon Pennsbury football fan.

The 16-year-old, who was born with cerebral palsy and gets around in a wheelchair, has been a regular at Falcons games for the last nine years.

"It makes me feel like I'm part of the team," said Schilling, a junior at Pennsbury. "And people always like to see me at the games."

Schilling, with a Mohawk haircut that was dyed bright orange in the middle, cheered from the sideline Saturday at Souderton as the Falcons defeated Coatesville, 21-14, for the PIAA District 1 Class AAAA championship.

"This team is special," the Levittown resident said. "It seems like the team has something that no other team has."

After Saturday's victory, Pennsbury's players hammed it up for photographers, and Schilling, clutching the game ball and championship trophy in his right hand and signaling No. 1 with a left-hand finger, was front and center.

"We're real close to him," Falcons junior quarterback Mike Alley said. "He comes to every game, home or away, rain or shine."

Said senior offensive lineman Austin O'Neill: "He's an inspirational person, means so much to everyone associated with the program."

Schilling's father, David, was with him at Souderton. His mother, Caren, watched a live Internet stream of the game from home.

"It was amazing to see him celebrate with the players," Caren Schilling said. "It means so much to him. And, to top it off, the team gave him the game ball."

After Alley throws a touchdown pass or workhorse senior rusher Charles Snorweah finds the end zone, they often run to the sideline and share the moment with Schilling.

For the 13-1 Falcons, Snorweah has carried the ball 294 times for an area-high 2,608 yards and 37 TDs.

"He's a clear Division I player," Schilling said. "Rutgers is getting a heck of a running back."

Alley, who transferred in this year from Conwell-Egan, completed 2 of 5 passes for 8 yards against previously undefeated Coatesville.

"When he does pass, he puts a good touch on the ball," Schilling said.

Alley was a Little League baseball player when he became friends with Schilling and his twin brother, Dylan. David Schilling Sr. coached the Levittown Continental team.

"He's a real nice, down-to-earth kid," Alley said of Pennsbury's superfan. "He always has a smile on his face."

Schilling began coming to games in 2006, at the urging of then-star running back Jackson Fagan, now a volunteer Pennsbury assistant. "He's the one who got me into it," Schilling said.

The Falcons will try to move closer to their first state title when they play defending champ St. Joseph's Prep (9-3) in a semifinal at 1 p.m. Saturday at Northeast.

Schilling has been busy this week watching tape of the Hawks and knows several of their top players, including fleet running backs Olamide Zaccheaus and D'Andre Swift.

"They have a lot of speed, run counter plays and sweeps," he said. "It's going to be a tough one, but I think we can win. I have a lot of faith in this team."

Schilling also will be keeping tabs on another game Saturday. His brother Jacob, 11, plays for the Bustleton Bengals in the United Youth Football League. His squad will be competing for a national junior title in Plant City, Fla.