You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet Thundering Herd Hasn’t Taken On Likes Of Montana Qb Dickenson

Marshall has faced its share of excellent quarterbacks en route to Saturday’s Division I-AA title game, including Kerry Joseph of top-ranked McNeese State in last week’s semifinal.

Next up is Montana quarterback Dave Dickenson, probably the best of the best. Dickenson has been key to the success of the Big Sky’s Grizzlies (12-2). The 5-foot-11, 175-pound senior has thrown for 5,395 yards and 49 touchdowns this season.

Dickenson “has a lot more accuracy, a lot more touch on the ball,” said Marshall defensive lineman Will Edwards. “He’s laying the ball right in the receivers’ hands. All they have to do is go up there and run underneath it. He’s probably a better pocket quarterback. He looks to throw rather than run first.”

For his career, Dickenson has averaged 316.3 yards passing per game and 328.9 yards total offense per game, both third-best in I-AA history. Dickenson’s total of 96 career touchdown passes is also third-best in the division, while his passing efficiency of 166.2 is second-best.

“Dave’s exceptional,” said Montana defensive end Yohanse Manzanarez. “He’s accomplished so many things statistically. I think the biggest thing he’s done for our team is provide great leadership. He’s a great leader on and off the field.”

Dickenson gives a lot of credit to his receivers. But he acknowledges experience is vital when the field is flooded with a confusing array of Grizzly wideouts.

“It really takes a great knowledge of your own system,” he said.

Marshall has had only one quarterback, Tony Petersen with 4,902 yards in 1987, come close to Dickenson’s passing yardage for a season.

Petersen, now the quarterbacks coach for the Thundering Herd (12-2), is impressed by Dickenson. But he also likes Marshall freshman quarterback Chad Pennington.

The 6-3, 195-pound Pennington has thrown for 2,199 yards. More importantly, he usually doesn’t make critical errors.

“I think the key thing with (Chad) is just trying to keep him in the mindset of it’s just another football game … even though it’s not,” Petersen said. “The better he can treat it that way, the better it’s going to be for him.

“This is it for (Dickenson), but I think he’s got to do the same thing,” Petersen said. “He’s got to go out and treat it as another game.”

Pennington kept his poise against McNeese even when the Herd looked on the ropes in the second half.

It’s something the freshman has done often since Marshall’s last loss, 10-3 to Appalachian State on Oct. 21.

“I’ve learned a lot, stuff like being able to read defenses,” Pennington said. “It took me a while to understand my role.”

Said Edwards, “that’s a totally different offense than what you saw when we lost to Appalachian State.

“They’re making plays, they know what to do, they’re blocking the right people, everybody’s catching the ball, (Chad’s) throwing the ball, not making that many mistakes. He’s just become an unbelievable freshman quarterback.”

Kickoff is 9 a.m. PST Saturday at Marshall. The game will be on ESPN.