In weather that was more befitting Nov. 2 than May 2, the Oregon Ducks wrapped up spring practices with a competitive finale on Saturday in front of 12,400 die-hard fans.
Tied at 14 with 1:41 to go in the fourth quarter, quarterback Justin Roper connected with receiver Lavasier Tuinei in the back corner of the end zone to put the Green team up 21-14. The touchdown would prove to be the game-winner after freshman Darron Thomas couldn’t lead the White team to tie the game.
“It was a lot of fun,” Roper said. “We got out here and had fun, which was my main goal. But we played well, too.”
The Green team, led by Roper, scored 21 unanswered points to take the 2009 Spring Game. Roper out-dueled fellow quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, throwing for 301 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 47 yards.
Masoli, who split time with Thomas, passed for 215 yards in the first half and threw for two touchdowns. He then sat out the second half so head coach Chip Kelly could evaluate Thomas, who finished with 45 yards passing and no touchdowns.
“I thought overall our kids really competed and bought into what we were trying to do,” Kelly said. “We still made some mistakes, but there were some big hits and they all competed. It came right down to the end. They made a play and it was great.”
Most of those mistakes came on special teams. While the offenses and defenses of both squads played well, the place kickers failed to convert on five field goal attempts. Daniel Padilla missed two field goals, one from 34 yards and the other from 42, and had two blocked. Rob Beard missed the other attempt from 51 yards.
But while the kickers struggled and the rushing on both teams totaled just 144 yards, the wide receivers shined. Aaron Pflugrad scored both of the White team’s touchdowns and had 107 yards receiving. The first touchdown came on the team’s second play from scrimmage. He hooked up with Masoli for a 60-yard score, most of it coming after the catch.
“I was wide open, and I saw both safeties trying to cut me off, so I turned back to the outside and I was able to get in,” Pflugrad said.
Receiver Blake Cantu caught five passes for 111 yards and a touchdown for the Green team. Tight end Ed Dickson had 95 yards receiving for the White team.
Wide receivers coach Scott Frost commended Pflugrad’s play this spring, and said the entire receivers squad has done well.
“I really thought Aaron Pflugrad stood out again,” Frost said. “Every time we’ve had a scrimmage he’s stood out, and I can’t say enough about him as a young man and as a player.
“All the guys have done well this spring,” Frost continued. “I thought we did some good things and bad things. I thought we still had some issues; we dropped a couple balls. But the guys came out and made plays that were factors in the game and I’m proud of them.”
Defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti said that besides having some young guys in the secondary struggle, he was pleased with how the game and the spring went.
“I think the kids had a great spring; they had fun and they got better,” he said. “I love our attitude and I love our character. Those characteristics, with guys who care about each other and will play and work hard are great.”
And what does Kelly think of his first spring practice as head coach?
“I have to watch 22 players instead of 11 players,” Kelly said. “It’s been different, but we have a great staff and I don’t have to micromanage. I can set the tone a little bit better. I’ve had a lot of fun with it.”
Next up for the team is preparation for the summer and next season. From here until the start of summer camp, seven coaches will travel the country trying to bolster their ranks and recruit. But while the coaches are focused on the future of the program, the players are focused on a more tangible goal: one that involves blue turf and the state of Idaho.
“I think we improved a lot,” cornerback Walter Thurmond III said. “But we just have to go from here and work hard into summer workouts. We have four more months until Boise State and everyone is looking forward to the first game and getting the first win.”
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Spring bloomers
Daily Emerald
May 2, 2009
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