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With presumed starters Carlos Rogers and Shawntae Spencer not available for Saturday’s matchup against the Oakland Raiders, a pair of 49ers cornerbacks with the same initials took their place in the starting lineup.

It was none other than Tarell Brown and Tramaine Brock, who lined up at right and left cornerback, respectively. And both young defensive backs had busy nights against the Raiders in a 17-3 victory.

Brown recorded two tackles and the 49ers’ first interception of the preseason, stepping in front of a Raiders receiver on a deep sideline out pass thrown by reserve quarterback Trent Edwards.

Brock totaled three tackles while playing into the fourth quarter.

“It feels good to play that much,” said Brock, a second-year player. “I have a lot of energy and a lot of wind, so it really wasn’t that big of a deal. I could play all game if they wanted me to.”

Brock played virtually the entire game and had a big smile on his face after the game.

Though the cornerback position remains one of the most competitive position battles on the 49ers defense, each competitor enjoys the fact they’re bringing the best out of each other.

“I don’t know how it’s going to be determined,” Brock said. “We’re going to have to find out but I like the competition. It’s making us all better.”

Both corners played into the third quarter on a night where the 49ers held Oakland to 151 passing yards. Rookie Chris Culliver stepped in for Brown, but Brock remained in the game late into the third and left early in the fourth.

It appears the wide-spread competitions for starting spots on the defense is making everyone better. Same goes for the added time in Vic Fangio’s 3-4 defensive scheme.

“I think we’ve gotten a lot better this week at communication,” said linebacker NaVorro Bowman, who  totaled his two tackles on the defense’s opening three-and-out. “Last week’s game was our first playing out here and being in the system. This week we were a lot more comfortable and I think it showed today."

Notes and Quotes

The 49ers honored Oscar and Marco Garcia through the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Awards. Both were honored at halftime in a ceremony which recognized their contributions as Hispanic community leaders.

As part of the NFL’s Back to Football initiative, several members of the 49ers roster presented signed uniforms to a select number of fans before the start of the game.

Though the team hasn’t named captains, Frank Gore and Patrick Willis represented the 49ers at the coin toss. Last week Justin Smith and Vernon Davis served as representatives.

Unlike its offensive counterpart, the 49ers defense stuck to its trend from last week in New Orleans. The defense forced the Raiders to a three-and-out and put the ball right back in the hands of the 49ers offense. Bowman recorded two tackles and a quarterback pressure in three consecutive plays.

Andy Lee appeared to be injured on a missed field goal attempt in the first half, but he gutted it out to hold on David Akers’ 23-yard connection late in the first quarter. Akers punted for Lee, and struck a 44-yard punt.