By Rob Moseley

Editor, GoDucks.com

Photo: Andy McNamara

Venue: Outdoor practice fields

Format: Competition day

The Ducks held their third and final competition day of this spring Wednesday, with the offense and defense having split the two earlier scored practice sessions.

Wednesday's scored periods were tight throughout, as usual. In a clutch scenario late in the day, Dakota Prukop drove the offense to a last-second field goal, giving them a slight lead. But the defense swarmed Travis Jonsen to keep the twos off the board, then won the final rep of practice with Prukop back on the field to win the day, 76-75.

“They've been out there communicating more often, they seem more sound and just more cohesive as a unit,” running back Royce Freeman said. “It's helping our offense out, making us step our game up.”

The offense had the lead through position drills, but the first period of 11-on-11 saw the defense turn a 46-41 deficit into a 57-56 lead (generally each rep is worth a point, with some wiggle room). Jimmie Swain, Johnny Ragin III, De'Quan McDowell and Gary Baker stopped run plays at or near the line during that period, and Fotu Leiato II popped a tight end just as the ball arrived to break up a pass.

The offense crept back in front during a red-zone scenario, in which Prukop's unit converted the drill four out of five times. He had touchdown passes to Dillon Mitchell, Kirk Merritt and tight end Ryan Bay in that period, and then to Merritt and Darren Carrington in a later red-zone drill to keep the offense in the lead.

Offensive coordinator Matt Lubick said all the quarterbacks look more confident given that the scheme is 100 percent installed. He said Prukop's game experience while at Montana State shows in certain situations – such as a clutch drill in which he threw incomplete to stop the clock, leaving 2 seconds to kick a field goal – but that command of Oregon's system still could be improved.

“The biggest thing is understanding where to put the ball at – and where to put the ball at quick,” Lubick said. “And that takes reps.”

Prukop's past experience no doubt helped him drive the offense to that field goal in the last period, putting them in position to win the day. But the defense finished strong, leaving their green flags flying over the practice fields.

Other highlights: The first scored period was 1-on-1 pass-rush drills. Calvin Throckmorton and Brady Aiello each won a couple reps for the offense, while Henry Mondeaux and Canton Kaumatule each earned the defense a couple points. The most entertaining reps were two split by Shane Lemieux and Austin Maloata, power on power. … Carrington made a one-handed catch in the back of the end zone during position drills, and caught another Prukop pass for a touchdown in 7-on-7 by leaping to catch a pass over Malik Lovette's head. …

During the first team period, Troy Dye rushed Jonsen and leaped up to bat down a pass with both hands. Jonsen recovered on the very next rep, hitting Charles Nelson for a long TD. … During red zone, Lovette nearly picked off a Jonsen pass early in the drill. He secured one later in the same drill, flying in to pick off a Terry Wilson ball that hung up in the air.

Other observations: In the post-practice huddle, Helfrich lauded Freeman for jumping into special teams drills as a scout kickoff coverage player. “Were his legs tired?” Helfrich asked rhetorically. “Has he made a couple plays in his career? Yet he was the first guy lined up.” Freeman isn't much of a talker, but that's a way a quiet guy can still be a leader. … Lubick was asked his impressions from Monday's scrimmage. He said he liked the way Tony Brooks-James and Taj Griffin ran the ball, with Freeman being held out, and also the redshirt freshmen offensive linemen currently playing with the first unit, Lemieux, Jake Hanson and Throckmorton. “Those guys are a lot farther ahead than I thought they were,” Lubick said. … Lubick also said he saw the Pharaoh Brown of old on the few reps he played Monday. Lubick said he was actually surprised to see Brown out there participating – and might have adjusted his playcalling had he known beforehand – and was noncommittal about Brown's possible participation in the spring game. “Everything's day to day with him,” Lubick said.