Lewis Hopes to Do Some Damage

Marcedes Lewis has exploited defenses all season, catching 55 passes for 711 yards and 10 touchdowns, numbers good enough to make him a finalist for the John Mackey Award -- which goes to college football’s top tight end -- for the second consecutive year.

On Saturday, Lewis will go up against a USC defense that has been burned several times by tight ends this season. Fresno State’s Devyn McDonald hurt the Trojans, Notre Dame’s Anthony Fasano had nearly 100 yards receiving, and tight ends for Arizona State and Arizona each caught touchdown passes.

“When I look at what some other tight ends have been able to do, I can’t help but be excited,” Lewis said. “I consider myself a pretty good tight end, and I think I can make some things happen.

“I want to be a big part of why we go out there and shock the world.”

Lewis expects to be matched up against USC strong safety Darnell Bing, a close friend and former Long Beach Poly High teammate.

“I would assume that they’re going to put him on me; I can’t see them doing anything different,” said Lewis, who starred with Bing on Poly’s 2001 Southern Section Division I championship team.

“The funny thing is, that’s my boy who I’ll be going up against,” Lewis added. “We keep in touch. We’ve talked every three or four days all season.

“It’s going to be an interesting game because this is like our bowl, given that we’re 9-1, the magnitude of this game is just ridiculous and I think we understand that.”

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Offensive tackle Brian Abraham did not practice Wednesday and wore a protective boot on his injured right ankle. Coach Karl Dorrell said Abraham may play Saturday, but if he’s unable to go, sophomore Noah Sutherland will start. Sutherland played defense last season. He has started once before, against Oregon State on Oct. 22.

“Either way, if Noah plays, we’ll be OK,” offensive coordinator Tom Cable said.

But if Abraham doesn’t play, depth becomes an issue for the line, which will be without two injured opening-day starters -- center Mike McCloskey (shoulder) and guard Chris Joseph (knee).

Cable said that, if needed, senior Ed Blanton would move from weak-side tackle to the strong side, and redshirt freshman Scott Glicksberg would take over for Blanton.

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The Westwood Bruin Touchdown Club will hold a 7 a.m. breakfast Friday at the Doubletree Hotel with UCLA cheerleaders and several Bruin players, including running back Maurice Drew and kicker Justin Medlock. Information: (310) 348-UCLA.