Offense Tallies Points Against Defense in Friday's Spring Scrimmage
EUGENE ? University of Oregon starting quarterback Kellen Clemens completed 10 of 12 passes for 135 yards and two touchdowns while redshirt freshman wide receiver Garren Strong nabbed six catches for 96 yards and two scores as the Ducks’ offense looked sharp for the second week in a row during the team’s 60-play spring scrimmage at Autzen Stadium.
Clemens opened the day by capping a 12-play, 75-yard drive with a 2-yard option run into the end zone against Oregon’s No. 1 defense before concluding the afternoon completing 31 and 20-yard TD strikes to Strong and tight end Tim Day, respectively.
Although both starting units played with the benefit of several prospective starting linemen, the Ducks’ offense grabbed the early momentum through the air. However, Clemens did keep the opening scoring drive alive via runs of 10 and 18 yards in addition to completing a 33-yard pass to reserve tight end Dan Kause on his first attempt.
“Our quarterbacks, certainly Kellen Clemens and Dennis Dixon, showed up and did some things,” head coach Mike Bellotti said. “They made some things happen early on.
“Garren Strong was a little slow to get started but made a couple of nice plays down the road and showed that he can be a weapon and a factor. And Tim Day was awesome. He made some big plays and big runs after the catch. He has become since the Cal game (in 2003) a go-to guy in this offense.
Day finished his workload with five receptions for 61 yards.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Johnny DuRocher also completed a 9-yard touchdown pass to Strong while tailback transfer Niles Miittasch scored on a 45-yard run. Senior Jared Siegel completed the scoring with a 24-yard field goal.
Dixon, the Ducks’ true freshman quarterback who first signed a letter of intent in February of 2003 but didn’t begin school until the 2004 winter term, led all rushers with 54 yards on four carries, including a 39 yard scramble the first time he touched the football.
The defense began to stiffen during the latter stages of the workout. End Chris Solomona was credited with creating a safety when he tackled Clemens in the end zone for a 1-yard loss while Nate LiaBraaten sacked DuRocher for a 3-yard setback in the end zone three plays later.
Cornerback Justin Phinisee and safety J.D. Nelson each led the way with three tackles while Solomona posted two tackles for losses of 10 yards among his 2.5 stops.
“I actually thought we got better today,” Bellotti added. “I thought there were more violent collisions and I liked that. I want to see us aggressive on both sides of the ball from snap to whistle.”
Oregon’s final scrimmage of the spring will take place Saturday, May 1, beginning at 12:30 p.m. in Autzen Stadium.
STATISTICS
Rushing ? Dixon 4-54, Mittasch 2-46, Clemens 6-22 1 TD, Shaw 5-12, Johnson 1-2, S. Rexius 2-2, Vincent 5- -1, Brown 1- -4, Leaf 1- -6, DuRocher 2- -12.
Passing ? Clemens 10-12-0, 135 yds., 2 TD; DuRocher 4-9-0, 54 yds., 1 TD; Leaf 3-4-0, 25 yds.; Dixon 0-1-0, 0 yds.
Receiving ? Strong 6-96 yds., 2 TD; Day 5-61 yds., 1 TD; Johnson 2-25; Kause 1-33; Carey 1-3; T. Smith 1-0; Shaw 1- -4.
Tackles ? Phinisee 3, Nelson 3, Reed 2.5, Solomona 2.5, Binns 2, Andrews 2, Toeaina 2, Matson 2, Kerney 2, LiaBraaten 1.5, Pope 1.5, eight others with 1.
