Feeling Owlish? Stay Up : UCLA: Game against San Diego State tonight will leave some late-evening plans in the air.

Anyone planning to attend tonight’s game between UCLA and San Diego State at the Rose Bowl should be prepared to stay awhile. It could be the late show.

Passing tends to prolong a game and that’s what these teams do best--especially the Aztecs.

It’s a break in the Pacific 10 Conference schedule for the 2-3 Bruins. The Aztecs, who play in the Western Athletic Conference, are also 2-3.

The results of some of San Diego State’s previous games could be basketball scores--losses of 52-51 to Wyoming and 62-34 to Brigham Young.

San Diego State’s 6-foot-8 quarterback, Dan McGwire, averages 39 passes and has been effective.

The younger brother of the Oakland Athletics’ Mark McGwire has completed 57.2% of his passes for 1,578 yards and 14 touchdowns. He hasn’t thrown an interception in his last three games, a streak of 133 passes.

Tommy Maddox, UCLA’s redshirt freshman quarterback, is averaging 36 passes in the last three games. He has completed 52.8% for 1,245 yards and seven touchdowns. But he has thrown eight interceptions.

“Offensively, San Diego State will be as difficult to contain and slow down as anyone we’ll play the rest of the season,” UCLA Coach Terry Donahue said.

And the Bruins should move at will against an Aztec defense that has yielded an average of 508 yards, 105th among 106 Division I-A teams in total defense, ahead of the University of Pacific.

San Diego State is averaging 38.4 points but giving up an average of 38.8.

It would seem that UCLA’s best hope to keep San Diego State’s air show off the field would be to control the ball with time-consuming drives.

“They won’t let you do that,” Donahue said. “They play nine guys on the line. They’re going to make you throw to beat them. They blitz and try to create turnovers. They make some big plays and also give you some big plays.

“They act like they’d just as soon you would score quickly so they can get their offense back on the field.”

UCLA has beaten San Diego State six times since the series was resumed in 1984. But it hasn’t always been easy. The Bruins had to rally in the closing minutes to beat the Aztecs last year in San Diego, 28-25.

Bruin Notes

San Diego State has yet to intercept a pass. “Somewhere we’ve just got to come up with an interception by a quirk, or fate,” Aztec Coach Al Luginbill said. . . . An injury to Aztec free safety Johnny Walker has promoted Marcus Preciado, a walk-on freshman, into the starting lineup. Strong safety Chris Johnson is a redshirt freshman.

San Diego State flanker Dennis Arey leads the nation in receiving yards per game with a 115.2 average. Split end Patrick Rowe averages 20 yards a catch. . . . The Aztecs operate from a one-running back formation, alternating Larry Maxey, a converted defensive back; Curtis Butts, T.C. Wright and Tommy Booker. . . . Aztec wide receiver Jimmy Raye III is the son of Jimmy Raye II, who was formerly on the Rams’ coaching staff.

Outside linebacker Roman Phifer and tailback Kevin Williams of UCLA will not be in uniform for tonight’s game. They are suffering from hamstring and back injuries, respectively. . . . Center Lance Zeno, who suffered sprained foot ligaments, and cornerback Carlton Gray, who has a rib injury, might play on a limited basis. They will be replaced by John Zilinskas and Michael Williams. . . . UCLA will resume Pac-10 play next Saturday against California at Berkeley.