From: "Saved by Windows Internet Explorer 8" Subject: Dickens enjoying success together for BHS football Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2009 20:47:43 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/related; type="text/html"; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0000_01CA4858.95727A70" X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.0.6002.18005 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0000_01CA4858.95727A70 Content-Type: text/html; charset="utf-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/high-school/football/article_e0286360-b458-11de-a5b4-001cc4c002e0.html =EF=BB=BF Dickens enjoying = success together for BHS football BLOOMINGTON -- Fred Carlton Field is bigger than most = lawns. It also is equipped with yard lines, end zones, goalposts,">
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Home / Sports / High School = Sports=20 / High=20 School Football

Dickens enjoying success together for BHS football

By Randy Kindred | rkindred@pantagraph.com | Posted: = Thursday,=20 October 8, 2009 5:15 pm | Loading=E2=80=A6<= /A>=20

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3D"buy=20 Senior fullback/linebacker Ryne Dicken, left, = and his=20 brother, junior quarterback Tyler Dicken, are enjoying their time as = teammates=20 and leaders on Bloomington High School=E2=80=99s state-ranked football = team. (Pantagraph=20 photo illustration/DAVID PROEBER)

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BLOOMINGTON -- Fred Carlton Field is bigger than most lawns. It also = is=20 equipped with yard lines, end zones, goalposts, lights, etc.

Still, it has a backyard feel this year for Bloomington High School = senior=20 Ryne Dicken.

Dicken is enjoying a banner season as a fullback and linebacker. He's = enjoying it even more because his brother, junior Tyler Dicken, is BHS' = starting=20 quarterback.

"It really is pretty fun," Ryne Dicken said. "It reminds me of when = we would=20 play in the backyard, only it's on a bigger stage now. It's a cool = experience to=20 have your brother playing on the team and in an important role."

The Dickens grew up playing football, and other sports, in what Tyler = described as "a real big backyard."

He said it was "perfect" for two high-energy boys separated by only a = year.=20 They battled each other -- "It was definitely competitive," Ryne said -- = but=20 ultimately, made each other better.

Now, they are reaping the benefits on a 5-1 team ranked No. 6 in the = Class 6A=20 state poll.

"We were really looking forward to this season," Tyler Dicken said. = "I'm=20 definitely proud of Ryne. He's a great example for me as far as how to = play and=20 how to lead a team. I think we're both pretty happy with how things are=20 going."

Why not?

Ryne Dicken is second on the team in tackles with 46, third in = rushing with=20 255 yards on 45 carries (a 5.7 average) and fourth in receiving with 10 = catches=20 for 167 yards. Included are six rushing touchdowns and two long scores = on screen=20 passes from his brother.

Tyler Dicken has passed for a Pantagraph-area leading 960 yards and = five TDs,=20 directing an offense averaging 35.2 points per game.

Their last name became synonymous with BHS football in the early = 1990s. First=20 cousin Billy Dicken was an all-state quarterback for the Raiders and = went on to=20 earn first-team all-Big Ten Conference honors at Purdue.

"From what I hear, he was really good. That's something to strive = for," said=20 Tyler Dicken, who wears his cousin's BHS number (7). "I really want to = get to a=20 level like that."

Billy Dicken, now an assistant football coach at Eastern New Mexico, = worked=20 with Tyler in the summer on throwing the ball and, the younger Dicken = said, "on=20 being a good teammate and a good leader."

The Dickens also benefited from the experiences of their older = brother, Andy,=20 who played quarterback at Normal West and is a senior signal-caller at = Millikin=20 University.

Ryne Dicken said Andy used to play in the backyard games and "kind of = told us=20 what it was like being a varsity football player." He could not counsel = them on=20 being named Dicken at Bloomington.

"A lot more people here know of our family than at West," Ryne Dicken = said.=20 "It's not really more pressure, but I kind of feel I have to represent = our=20 family."

BHS head coach Rigo Schmelzer was an assistant during the Billy = Dicken era,=20 and still considers him "one of the most talented athletes I've ever = seen."

That said, Schmelzer called the current Dickens "great football = players."

"They're very competitive," he said. "They're not as vocal as Billy = was and=20 don't wear their emotions on the outside the way he did at times. = However, they=20 are all about the game and about bringing everything they can to = it."

Schmelzer said Ryne Dicken's versatility makes him a huge asset, and = that=20 Tyler Dicken has shown great ability to "stay in the pocket and deliver = the=20 ball."

"He's also shown he's tough enough to run the option," Schmelzer = added. "He's=20 as good a QB right now as I've had in 17 years as a head coach."

It all started in the backyard, where the Dickens competed hard but = rarely=20 fought.

Why?

"I would get in trouble if I fought my younger brother," Ryne = said.

Better to team up with him, and make trouble for the = opposition.

Posted in Football, Sports = on=20 Thursday, October 8, 2009 5:15 pm

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