DEFENSE TAKES A STAND.

Byline: Bob Clark The Register-Guard

Score one for the defense.

Or actually put up two tallies for the Oregon defenders, a 7-yard interception return to the end zone by linebacker Kevin Mitchell and a 79-yard fumble recovery return for a touchdown by rover Demetrius Spates as the Ducks went through a 64-play scrimmage Friday at Autzen Stadium.

Despite all that, the offense ended up ahead 40-37 on the scoreboard, using a scoring system instituted for the first time that recorded points not only for touchdowns and field goals but such things as first downs for the offense and passes broken up or forced fumbles by the defense.

`It's really good,' Mitchell said of a point system for scrimmages. `The points add up and it gives you a little boost.'

It was maybe also the presence of the senior linebacker for a couple of series Friday that helped jump-start the defense.

This was Mitchell's first appearance of the spring in full contact as he recovers from winter knee surgery, and he'd only this week returned for regular participation in drills.

`I got some reps in, trying to get back in the swing of it,' Mitchell said. `I dropped one interception. I'm kicking myself still, but it's just good to get back in the swing of things.'

For the first half of Friday's scrimmage, it was mostly a defensive show. Oregon coach Mike Bellotti described that unit's play as `awesome' and said it `looked capable of being a dominant defense.'

That was for the first half. After the brief intermission, it was the offense on the comeback as it scored three touchdowns, on a 10-yard pass from freshman quarterback Johnny DuRocher to tailback Terrence Whitehead, a 5-yard run by senior quarterback Jason Fife and a 3-yard pass from Fife to tight end Nate LiaBraaten.

The first two of those scores came on drives that needed to cover only 25 yards, field position with which Bellotti said `the offense should score, and they took advantage of that.'

The third touchdown concluded a 75-yard drive that included Fife completing his three pass attempts for 20 yards while tailback Chris Vincent carried four times for the other 55 yards, on gains of 15, 22, 11 and 7, all against the No. 1 defense.

Bellotti said Fife `started off (the scrimmage) very slow, but the one series was a very good series. He looked like a fifth-year senior and a guy who had been there before.'

Vincent led all rushers with 63 yards on 11 carries, most of it in the second half as the defense, Bellotti said, `wore down' and the freshman tailback responded to taunts from the defenders that `you're not running against the third team anymore.'

`That probably challenged him and he had something to prove,' Bellotti said.

Whitehead ran eight times for 41 yards, and Ryan Shaw had 12 carries for 28 yards.

The backs were also the primary receivers on a windy, brisk afternoon that hindered throwing with Whitehead's two catches covering 22 yards and fullback Erik Cheney adding two receptions for 17 yards.

DuRocher, going against defensive reserves, completed 6-of-11 passes for 45 yards, while Fife was 4-of-8 for 23 yards and sophomore Kellen Clemens was 2-of-6 for 10 yards, with a tipped ball that Mitchell intercepted as the two contenders for the starting position played against only the team's No. 1 defense.

Oregon has practices Tuesday and Thursday, with the spring game next Saturday at Autzen Stadium.

CAPTION(S):

Senior quarterback Jason Fife breaks through the defense to score a touchdown in Friday's scrimmage at Autzen Stadium. Ducks: Vincent rushes for 63 yards Continued from Page D1 Please turn to DUCKS, Page D2 U O f o o t b a l l