Bryce Miller

brmiller@dmreg.com

Northern Iowa football coach Mark Farley jumped on the question, much like he did ball carriers when he was an honorable mention all-America defender for the Panthers.

Michael Schmadeke is the 5-foot-11, self-described "buck-80" placekicker for Northern Iowa, which just dusted then-No. 1 North Dakota State 23-3 on Saturday to end the giant-killer's 33-game winning streak.

Who, though, is Schmadeke — in his brain, in his approach, in his football-playing soul?

"That's an easy answer," Farley said. "He's a linebacker. You wouldn't know it talking to him. But behind the scenes, he's a linebacker. He's fiery. He competes. He's a perfectionist. None of us can touch perfect, but man, when you train that way, you can come close.

"People are seeing the end result. We've seen it for two or three years, and now it's his time."

Those paying attention to Northern Iowa football worried about filling the football-denting shoes of Tyler Sievertsen, a Panther all-American the Missouri Valley Football Conference tabbed the top kicker in its 30-year history.

Schmadeke could be better.

He cranks hard-rocking AC/DC through his ear buds before games. He plays the ballad "Colors of the Wind" from the Disney movie "Pocahontas" on the piano. Even though he operates at polar ends of the musical spectrum, he's metronome-steady on the field — the most consistent field-goal producer in the Football Championship Subdivision.

Schmadeke, who leads the country with 2.3 field goals per game, is fast becoming the biggest difference-maker for the national title-chasing Panthers.

When people talk about Northern Iowa football, the discussion routinely revolves around running back David Johnson and a smattering of chit-chat about defensive lineman Xavier Williams. A junior kicker from Waterloo Columbus, though, has the potential to write his team's final chapter in 2014.

Sievertsen owns the MVFC record for career field-goal percentage, at 81.7 percent. This season, Schmadeke has hit 23 of 25 (one was blocked) for a robust 92 percent.

The sole miss came on a windy day against Indiana State in Terre Haute. Schmadeke corkscrewed four field goals between the uprights as gusts tormented — but the fifth, from 53 yards, came up just short in the 20-19 loss.

Against North Dakota State, the three-time defending national champs, Schmadeke harassed and demoralized. He kept pushing the Bison back with a field goal from 43 … then 36 … then 42. He stalled hope. He stiff-armed momentum.

Schmadeke made sure the climb remained as uphill and taxing as possible for North Dakota State, which had beaten major-college foes Iowa State, Kansas State, Colorado State, Kansas and Minnesota (twice) since 2007.

"He's been a huge element to our success," Farley said of Schmadeke, who also recorded two touchbacks on kickoffs against the Bison. "His extra points, his field goals — he's got great consistency. On kickoffs, he has great hang time or distance. … He's allowing our defense to start in a good spot.

"And if we get past the 50 (on offense), there's a possibility we can score because of his range."

Another rarity on Schmadeke's resume: Farley said it's possible he's the first Northern Iowa kicker awarded scholarship money directly out of high school.

The No. 12 Panthers paid for the potential — and were rewarded with a rock-solid investment.

"I'm very grateful," Schmadeke said. "That speaks volumes about the confidence they have in me. I'm just happy for the opportunity, scholarship or not. It's been a great ride so far."

The rest of the FCS-playing nation recognized the kicker's value against North Dakota State. Schmadeke — the top-scoring kicker at that level in the country — was named a College Sporting News "All-Star of the Week" for the second time this season after accounting for 11 of the Panthers' 23 points.

Trying to praise Schmadeke, however, is a little like trying to corral air with bare hands. He ducks and changes directions with the precision of a stutter-stepping running back. Success, he said, must be shared with holder Logan Bieghler and snapper Trent Simpson.

"Logan and Trent, they've done a fantastic job," he said. "They're just unbelievable at what they do. Trent's snaps are laces out, right where they need to be. And if he's ever off, Logan adjusts perfectly. They're both huge reasons why I'm doing well."

Bieghler, the team's punter, said his roommate's talents extend beyond the kicking tee.

"I had no idea he played the piano until a few weeks back," said Bieghler, who played in high school at Southeast Polk. "We were on a road trip on Friday night in the hotel lobby and he started playing a piano there. He was incredible."

Rhythm and routine. Routine and rhythm. Place-kicking and piano both benefit.

"Another thing I do is kind of sway my arms a little bit before I kick," Schmadeke said. "I take my three steps back, two steps over and sway my arms, a little like a practice swing in golf. I didn't know that until someone asked me about it in an interview a few weeks ago. He said, 'You do that arm swing.' I look at the film and didn't even realize it because it was such a habit.

"It's exactly like a free-throw shooter bouncing a ball or spinning it before every shot. If you don't do it, you don't feel right."

Schmadeke also adopts different mentalities, depending on the kicking need.

"You attack the ball on kickoffs like a lion attacking its prey," he said. "You really want to drive the ball. On field goals, it's more like a chip shot in golf."

Whatever he's doing, it works. Nobody decked out in Panther purple wants to tinker with the linebacker of kickers.

"Um, I suppose," said Schmadeke when asked if he agreed with Farley's comparison. "I guess I do have a couple of tackles this year (vs. Iowa, Western Illinois). If I have to tackle somebody, I'll do it — but I'd much rather stick to kicking."

Bryce Miller can be reached at 515-284-8288 or brmiller@dmreg.com. Follow him on Twitter: @Bryce_A_Miller