Davidson fully embraces his role with Barrington

Those who know Daniel Davidson could understand if he got carried away about his 1-yard touchdown run last week for Barrington.

After all, it had been a long time since Davidson had carried the football into the end zone. A really long time.

"It was definitely way back when," Davidson said with a laugh of what he believed was his first touchdown since he played flag football in third or fourth grade.

"Getting him his first career touchdown was a big moment and all the kids were jacked up for him," said Barrington coach Joe Sanchez. "It was a point of emphasis to get him something for all he's done for the program."

Davidson hasn't been an attention-grabber on the field or in postgame box scores. But the 5-foot-9, 215-pound fullback epitomizes what makes teams successful.

Davidson knows his touchdown isn't going to lead to more carries Saturday night when Barrington hosts Glenbard North in a Class 8A playoff opener. But his value is evident in the 1,417 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns by classmate Chase Murdock.

"He's the kind of kid who loves what he does and has been a big part of what we've done," Sanchez said.

"He's in the action every play," said Wisconsin-bound offensive tackle Dan Voltz. "He does the dirty work.

"Having a good fullback is a key to our offense and it obviously shows how good Daniel Davidson has been this season."

Davidson originally was preparing to be up front with Voltz this year. He had been an offensive lineman since he started playing tackle football in the sixth grade and last year was a backup to all-area center Pat Bolger, who is now at Air Force.

Davidson was working with starting quarterback and longtime friend Mark Bennett in the offseason. Offensive line coach Steve Galovich proposed a change as Barrington needed a replacement at fullback for Jeremy Rafidia.

It was not going to be a move toward more glamour and glory. But that was fine with Davidson.

"It was something the team needed and I'm always there for the team," Davidson said. "It was definitely exciting and I wanted to take on a leadership role in the backfield."

Davidson went to work with Galovich, Sanchez and running backs coach Randy Marks in order to get a better handle on his new position. Former fullback turned tight end Evan Lindroth also helped.

"All through summer camp I talked to the coaches and would ask questions to make sure everything was perfect," Davidson said. "To me I'm almost a perfectionist. The biggest thing to me was the repetition and knowing the blocking schemes and the passing plays."

One of the keys for Davidson is to get to the linebackers to give Murdock the opportunity to turn good runs into great ones.

And one of the keys to the move for Barrington was knowing Davidson would live vicariously through Murdock's success.

"I wanted Chase to have a tremendous season," Davidson said of helping his friend since seventh grade to his third straight 1,000-yard season. "I love blocking for Chase and love being the guy leading him through the holes and making sure he's feeling good."

Davidson also wrestles for Barrington and went 28-15 at 215 pounds last year. He hopes to play football or wrestle in college and the honor student is looking to study business.

And he'll always have the memory of taking care of some unfinished business last week.

"Against Wheeling I was in the same situation on the 1-yard line and I couldn't get it in," Davidson said. "It was definitely redemption for me and I wanted it bad.

"The line did a great job."

Spoken like the truly unselfish teammate Daniel Davidson has been for Barrington.

mmaciaszek@dailyherald.com