In front of a spring-game-record crowd of 25,211 fans, the Oregon White team edged the Green team 26-21 on Saturday afternoon at Autzen Stadium.
The third and final scrimmage marks the end of the spring season for the Ducks, who will now have a few months off before suiting up for summer camp in August.
True freshman cornerback Terrance Mitchell got the White team on the board first when he intercepted sophomore quarterback Darron Thomas’s fourth pass of the day and returned it 46 yards for a touchdown. Honorary coach for the White team Ahmad Rashad said it was Mitchell’s early score that set the tone for the rest of the day.
“Spring football is opportunity time,” Rashad said. “I don’t think there’s very many position changes that happen in the fall. So if you’re really looking for a chance to play, and you get a chance in the spring game, that’s where you have to show your stuff.”
The White team was then able to slow sophomore running back LaMichael James, who finished with five carries for 13 yards before making an early departure from action, forcing sophomore punter Jackson Rice’s first punt of the day.
Four plays and two deep completions later, senior running back Remene Alston found the end zone on a one-yard scamper to put the White team up 14-0. Senior quarterback Nate Costa connected with redshirt freshman receiver Garrett Davis on a 38-yard strike to opening the series. Costa then found junior Lavasier Tuinei, picking up 28 more yards on the reception to put the White squad on the two-yard line.
The Green team responded with a seven-play, 75-yard drive of its own that resulted in a six-yard touchdown run by redshirt sophomore running back Kenjon Barner. Barner finished the game with nine carries for 96 yards and two scores. After the game, second-year head coach Chip Kelly said he was more than impressed with the way Barner responded from his “coming-out party” during the Ducks’ Rose Bowl loss to Ohio State, and that he and senior wide receiver Jeff Maehl were the most valuable players on the Oregon offense this spring.
“He’s a special, special talent. I saw that last spring,” Kelly said. “You know, a year ago when we moved him over, Nick (Aliotti) kept asking when he was coming back and I started talking about the weather and things like that.
“Then finally I had to break the news to him that he wasn’t getting him back.”
Barner has made a seamless transition from defensive back to running back, and with James serving a one-game suspension in the season-opener against New Mexico Sept. 4, the door is open for Barner to solidify his position as the No. 1.
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think about it — because I do,” Barner said.
Barner’s second score of the day, a one-yard run to put the Green team up 21-17 going into halftime, was sandwiched around one of the more exciting plays of the day. With nine minutes remaining in the first quarter, Barner took a handoff from Thomas, took a few steps forward, then turned and flipped the ball back to Thomas. Thomas then made a nice grab on the high toss and hit senior wide receiver D.J. Davis with a 64-yard touchdown strike. Davis finished the game with five receptions for 88 yards and one score.
“That was a great ball,” Costa said of the throw. “Great rhythm and timing on that one.”
Thomas finished the day 15 of 23 for 196 yards and one touchdown, while Costa connected on 7 of 13 passes for 104 yards. The third quarterback in the mix, redshirt freshman Daryle Hawkins, scored the game’s final touchdown on a six-yard run. He did not complete a pass on the day.
Kelly said picking a starting quarterback was never the goal this spring as long as each of the players continued to improve. But with another offseason ahead, Kelly says the ball is in their court now.
“It’s really what they do on their own.” Kelly said. “The unique thing about our sport right now is we don’t have any contact with them when it comes to football from now until August.”
“I think it’s a good move by coach Kelly,” Costa concluded. “Because it’s going to make our team better in the end.”
[email protected]