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Harding?s Glover has grip on defense
By JOE SIMON Tribune Chronicle
There was a play during Warren G. Harding?s Week 7 game against Massillon when Raiders coach Thom McDaniels couldn?t see the number of the player on his defense who made the tackle.
But he still knew it was safety Sidney Glover.
??Sometimes if you don?t see the number of the guy who makes the tackle, you can tell it was a Sidney Glover tackle from of the impact of the hit,? McDaniels said.
The hard-hitting, 6-foot, 205-pound senior did more than just hit Saturday. Glover had a 48-yard interception return for a touchdown. The touchdown gave Harding a lead it would not relinquish, and Glover his second pick of the season, not to mention the Week 7 Player of the Week honors.
McDaniels said Glover has been Harding?s most consistent player.
Glover played a huge role in the Raiders? four-game winning streak.
After beating Wilson, Ursuline, St. Ignatius, and Massillon, Harding (6-2) is ranked No. 7 in Region I of the Division I state computer ratings and looks to be on track to make the playoffs.
And it?s been the defense that?s led the charge. The unquestioned leader of that defense is Glover, who leads the Raiders in tackles.
??I want him to lead the defense. We had a conversation about that this evening,? McDaniels said Tuesday night. ??We have a lot of good kids, but sometimes they need someone to take charge.?
That?s where Glover, who?s made a verbal commitment to play defense at the University of Indiana, comes in.
??He leads more by the way he plays, but he was a vocal leader for us tonight and we want him to continue to do that,? McDaniels said. ??He has natural leadership abilities. We recognize it and his teammates recognize it.?
Glover recognizes it as well.
??There are certain times during certain games when players lose focus, and I need to speak up,? Glover said. ??Me being a senior and three-year letterman, they kind of expect that out of me.?
The interception return for a touchdown against Massillon changed the complexity of the game, McDaniels said. And it wasn?t only because it gave Harding a 14-10 lead after trailing 10-0. It was also because of the sudden change the play caused.
??We were right back into the game,? McDaniels said. ??Not because it was no longer 10-7, but because of the way we scored. Our sidelines were going nuts, and it gave us a lot of momentum.?
Those type of plays are ones Glover?s been making all year. And McDaniels added that ??the better the team, the better Sidney seems to play.? While Glover said he isn?t sure why that is, he gave a lot of the credit to the coaching staff.
??Coaches put a good gameplan together,? he said. ??And I just watch film and work hard all week in practice. I guess maybe I get more pumped up, and the momentum of the big game gets me to work a little harder. But I try to work hard every week.?
The hard work seems to paying off. And it may soon cause Glover, the backup tailback and last year?s starting quarterback, to see more playing time on offense. McDaniels said the Raiders are ??looking to expand his role? on offense.
??We want to expand his involvement in the offense,? he said. ??He hasn?t had a bad running play this year. We?ve been inserting him into the lineup in the shotgun formation. And we want to use him more on offense.?
Glover would relish the opportunity.
??I think I can help the ?O?,? he said. ??I don?t? think they?re doing bad, but I think I can help. In big games I want the ball.?
While Glover?s excited about getting more playing time on offense, he said defense is his pastime.
??I feel like I?m more of a defensive player,? Glover said. ??On defense, you need a different type of mentality. I call it a kill switch. I love to hit whoever touches the ball.?
The switch has been turned on all year for Glover.