DAGSBORO — Sometimes balancing sports and school can be tough, but for Indian River High School athlete Zach Izzo, the chore is doubled.

“It’s definitely a hectic schedule, but it’s worth it,” he said. “It’s fun and the environments are different. I really enjoy doing both.”

Every year, football coach Jim Bunting and soccer coach Steve Kilby work out an agreement that allows a few soccer players to play football. Thanks to little or no scheduling conflicts, athletes have rarely had to make a choice. But if that was ever the case, Izzo has made his feelings clear — soccer comes first.

Last year, a conflict was looming. If the boys’ soccer team had defeated Caravel Academy in the quarterfinals of the state tournament, Izzo — then the back-up kicker — along with punter Sean Lewis and starting kicker Luke Wingate, would have missed Indian River’s matchup with Concord High School.

Instead, they lost, eliminating them from the state tournament and allowing the football team to use their soccer players in different capacities. Lewis proved to be the Indians secret weapon, amassing nearly 100 yards receiving in the loss.

Asked if he could duplicate the effort of his former teammate, Izzo laughed and responded, “I probably don’t have that level of athleticsm, but if they wanted to try something like that, I would definitely be up for it. I think we could do something like fakes because soccer season will probably be over by then and they wouldn’t need to worry about me getting hurt.”

Izzo began playing soccer at a young age and said there’s no doubt in his mind that he would be playing football if soccer was a spring sport. And that doesn’t surprise Kilby.

“If I was looking at Zach as a football player, I would think he would be an offensive or defensive tackle,” he said. “But he’s too smart for that position. That’s not knocking those players, he’s just got a quarterback’s brain.”

Since the two sports coincide, Izzo must settle with being the place kicker. Seeing action on kickoffs, extra points and field goals, Izzo has plenty of opportunities to make his impact on the game’s outcome. If it came down to it, he believes he could nail a long field goal to win the game.

Coach Bunting said if he had to put the game on the line, he would have the utmost confidence in Izzo nailing the game winner.

“What a competitor,” Bunting said. “He’s got as much confidence as any kid I’ve coached. He truly believes that if he’s 60 yards out he can make it.”

To his recollection, Bunting believes Izzo has the strongest leg of any kicker the Indians have ever had.

Practicing before the big win over Delmar, Izzo kicked what coaches figured to be a 50-yard field goal, quite an accomplishment for a kicker at any level. While he believes many soccer players could easily step into that role, Kilby believes Izzo is perfectly suited for the position.

“Zach’s got what I call a thick body type, so he’s able to push his center of gravity through the ball and really bang it,” he said. “The difference between kicking a football and a soccer ball is that we try to keep (soccer players) over the ball, where as in football they need to lean back a little to get it lifted. I wouldn’t doubt that he could kick a 55 yarder.”

Izzo has enjoyed his time as a kicker so much that he said he may pursue it in college as a walk on player. Currently looking at Division I schools like the University of Maryland, Clemson University and Auburn University, Izzo feels he could have a decent shot at making the team.

“I don’t think I’m going to try to play soccer,” he said. “To play football and see myself on ESPN would be amazing. It would be so surreal.”

nroth@dmg.gannett.com 302-537-1881, Ext. 206