A bittersweet homecoming.

Byline: Rob Moseley The Register-Guard

The memory of Terrance Kelly is tangible in the East Bay, and it will become more so this weekend when two of the slain De La Salle football star's former teammates return home.

Cameron Colvin and Jackie Bates, two of the four De La Salle seniors to sign with Oregon last February, are both practicing with the first string this week as the Ducks prepare to face California in Berkeley, Calif., on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. They have been the two biggest contributors this fall from their heralded recruiting class, and they've done so in the wake of Kelly's killing less than three months ago.

"I'm very proud of them," said Landrin Kelly, Terrance's father.

In those three months, Kelly has established a youth foundation in his son's name. He wants to reopen community centers in his hometown of Richmond, offering a safe haven for kids who want to get off the streets. And he wants to end the turf wars in the city's "Iron Triangle" neighborhood, where Terrance Kelly was shot in August while waiting in his car to pick up his brother.

A 15-year-old boy was arrested in the shooting a few days later. Darren Pratcher of Richmond is being tried as an adult, and he pleaded not guilty in September. His next court appearance is scheduled for next week, and according to the San Francisco Chronicle, Pratcher's attorney is appealing for the case to be moved to juvenile court.

Landrin Kelly is following the proceedings closely, hoping his son's alleged killer is brought to justice. But on Saturday, for at least one more day, his thoughts will turn to football.

Kelly will be in Berkeley to watch the Oregon-Cal game. He's looking forward to the chance to cheer for Colvin and Bates, to offer appreciation to the program that reacted with an outpouring of kindness in the wake of the shooting and - in some small way - to root on his son one more time.

"I tell them, 'Terrance is out there with you guys every time you step on the field,' ' Kelly said. `And I support the Ducks, because that's where Terrance wanted to go. Just like they supported me when they came down to the funeral.'

Unbelievably, more tragedy befell Landrin Kelly this fall. His mother, Bevlyn, who helped raise Terrance in Richmond, just north of Berkeley, died in her sleep three weeks ago.

Landrin Kelly said he has spoken with Bates on almost a daily basis this fall, and has also stayed in touch with Colvin. Kelly and Bates lean on each other, a father and a son, unrelated in name but connected by a senseless murder.

"I talk to him, encourage him, try to help him stay in school," Kelly said. "He's missing Terrance as much as I'm missing Terrance."

It's quite possible that, when Kelly hears Oregon's starting lineup announced Saturday, he will hear the names of both Bates and Colvin.

Bates has started three straight games at cornerback, and Colvin is listed as a starter at receiver in the event Demetrius Williams can't play due to turf toe.

It's a bittersweet feeling for Bates, who hoped Kelly and cornerback Willie Glasper, who is still trying to qualify at Oregon, might also have been contributing for the Ducks at this point.

`There's supposed to be four of us,' Bates said. `We feel like it would be double what it is now.'

With Williams sitting out practices, Colvin is practicing with the first-team offense this week. There's no guarantee he'll start, but he's preparing for the opportunity should it come.

"It's a little more stressful, because there's so much more to learn and a little more pressure," said Colvin, who scored the first two touchdowns of his career last week. "You've just got to work hard and learn."

Bates is looking forward to playing against a couple of former high school foes, notably running back Marshawn Lynch and receiver Robert Jordan.

"It'll be exciting," Bates said. "It'll be nice to see some friends. And I'll be playing against some of my friends, so it will be fun."

Bates plans to spend Saturday night in his hometown of Benicia, where his mother plans to host a dinner for Landrin Kelly. Valencia Bates has attended many of the court proceedings involving Terrance Kelly's shooting, and she has been in regular contact with Landrin Kelly.

Colvin hasn't yet decided whether he will stay over Saturday night in the Bay Area.

But he may get to see Landrin Kelly in the locker room before Saturday's game, a visit UO defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti is helping arrange, Kelly said.

Then, Colvin and Bates will take the field under the eyes of friends and family, two true freshmen starters for the Ducks.

"It would have been four people doing that," Bates said. "But since it is only us two, we've just got to go out and make plays - play for each other."

That includes Landrin Kelly, and his son Terrance, whose memory will be alive and well this weekend.

OREGON FOOTBALL UPDATE

Moving up: UO tailback Terrence Whitehead needs 53 yards to tie Jim Shanley (1,881 yards) for 10th on the school career rushing list. Whitehead's 819 yards this season put him third in the Pac-10 in rushing and on pace to become the 10th Duck to rush for 1,000 yards in a season.

Duck receiver Demetrius Williams needs one reception for 100 in his career. Williams began the season with 56 catches and leads Oregon with 43 this season. He needs 117 receptions to reach Oregon's top 10 career list.

Also on pace: Kellen Clemens has completed 176-of-281 passes this season, a percentage of .626. The Oregon record for pass completion percentage is .619 by Danny O'Neil (223-of-360) in the 1993 season.

Next game: Saturday at California at 12:30 p.m. TV: Televised live on ABC (KEZI in the Eugene-Springfield area).

CAPTION(S):

Jackie Bates, who has become a solid cornerback as a freshman, breaks up a pass against Stanford on Oct. 23 in Oregon's 16-13 win. "There's supposed to be four of us. We feel like it would be double what it is now." - JACKIE BATES, ONE OF THE FOUR DE LA SALLE SENIORS TO SIGN WITH OREGON LAST FEBRUARY Kevin Clark / The Register-Guard Freshman Cameron Colvin (top right) celebrates his second touchdown reception against Washington with teammates last Saturday. The TD catches were the first of Colvin's college career.