PULLMAN — Washington State concluded spring football yesterday with its most balanced scrimmage of the practice season.

Both the offense and defense looked good and bad at times.

The best football was shown on the scoreboard before and after the scrimmage — last November's Apple Cup victory over Washington. The 28-25 triumph was screened to please the crowd of about 1,500 at Martin Stadium and impress high-school recruits on "Junior Day."

When the scrimmage was over, coach Bill Doba said, "I think we're going to be pretty good. There is talent."

But then Doba added the asterisk that accompanies any spring game — "You don't know playing against each other."

The final scrimmage was a mixed bag, but at least the defense kept the offense from operating like the unstoppable train it had resembled for much of the spring.

The offense, which included everything from first string to third string, totaled 348 yards.

"Today, we improved defensively," Doba said.

Running back Jerome Harrison, who had run wild all spring, had 67 yards on 14 carries. He scored on runs of 6 and 4 yards.

Starting quarterback Alex Brink completed 9 of 17 passes for 156 yards and one touchdown.

"I felt I played well enough to put myself in a position where I can be the starter for this team," Brink said. "In this last scrimmage, I wish I could have done a little bit better but overall I felt I had a good spring."

Josh Swogger, who will begin fall camp as the No. 1 quarterback, was held out of all scrimmages to protect his surgically repaired foot. Swogger had asked to play in the final scrimmage.

"I talked to coach Doba yesterday (Friday)," Swogger said, "and asked him if I can get a couple series today but they are being real careful and they want me to take my time."

The day's most spectacular play was a 64-yard touchdown interception return by cornerback Tyron Brackenridge of a pass thrown by third-string quarterback Cole Morgan.

One of the most obvious problems yesterday was kicking. Both Loren Langley and Graham Siderius were only 3 for 5 on field-goal attempts. Langley, who did most of the field-goal kicking last year as a true freshman, also missed a PAT.

The Cougars' offense had difficulty moving the ball in the two-minute drill and trouble in the four-minute drill, where the goal is to consume time. After a mostly fumble-free spring, there were two fumbles yesterday.

One of the defensive standouts was Bryan Olson, a senior backup defensive tackle from Kentlake High School. He led defenders with six tackles and was credited with two sacks (no actual tackling of quarterbacks is allowed).

Derting undergoes wrist surgery

All-America candidate Will Derting underwent surgery in Spokane on Friday to "to promote healing" of the two wrist bones fused in an earlier operation, according to WSU trainer Bill Drake.

Drake said Dr. Paul Horn and Dr. Ed Tingstad removed one of two screws in the linebacker's left wrist and replaced it with two pins.

Derting was held out of contact all spring. Drake said the Cougars' medical staff hopes that Derting will be able to resume full activity, including weight lifting, in mid-June.

The most serious injury in yesterday's scrimmage was medial collateral ligament damage to the right knee of starting defensive tackle Ropati Pitoitua. Drake said Pitoitua's recovery time is estimated at four weeks and no surgery will be necessary.

Linebacker Chris Balzer, who has been in the first unit this spring, suffered an elbow injury yesterday and was to be X-rayed. Cornerback Ian Bell aggravated his left ankle and also was to be X-rayed. Receiver Marty Martin was taken out of the scrimmage after suffering a slight concussion and neck sprain.

Key Cougars who didn't participate in the scrimmage because of injuries included starting quarterback Swogger (recovering from surgery), receivers Jason Hill and Chris Jordan (recovering from surgery), starting cornerback Alex Teems, backup tight end Adam West, backup linebacker Brian Hall and backup defensive end Jason Roberts.

Note

• Replays of Cougars games won't be shown on Fox Sports Northwest this fall. In past years, Fox has sent a crew to all Cougars games, covered it like a live game, but delayed showing the telecast until Sunday.

Instead, Fox will produce a 30-minute weekly WSU magazine-type show featuring game highlights, interviews, "behind-the-scenes" features and possibly highlights from other sports, according to Pete Isakson, associate athletic director. He said the show is likely to air on a weeknight.

Athletic director Jim Sterk said Fox is dropping the replay of games because "the ratings weren't real high" and because Fox has other priorities.

Cougars schedule
Home games in CAPS
Date	Opponent
Sept. 1	IDAHO
Sept. 9	at Nevada
Sept. 17	GRAMBLING STATE*
Sept. 24	Bye week
Oct. 1	at Oregon State
Oct. 8	STANFORD
Oct. 15	UCLA (Homecoming)
Oct. 22	at California
Oct. 29	at USC
Nov. 5	ARIZONA STATE (Dad's Day)
Nov. 12	OREGON
Nov. 19	at Washington
* — Game to be played at Qwest Field.