Wills, Williams Are Out for Bruins : UCLA: Rotating tailbacks will not play against Arizona State because of injuries.

Just when it seemed that UCLA’s football program was on the upswing, the Bruins have lost both of their tailbacks, Shawn Wills and Kevin Williams, for today’s game against Arizona State at Sun Devil Stadium.

Wills suffered a bruised knee in last Saturday night’s game against Oregon State at Corvallis, Ore. He was expected to play against Arizona State, until he reinjured his knee in practice.

Williams hurt his ankle in the Oregon State game, but the injury wasn’t considered serious. But it didn’t respond to treatment, so he is sidelined.

Ricky Davis, who didn’t play against Oregon State because of a hamstring injury, and reserve fullback Maury Toy are expected to share the tailback duties.

There is also a possibility that Daron Washington, a redshirt freshman who has participated in only four plays this season, may be used at tailback. Fullback Kevin Smith is also an alternate at the position.

“Obviously this is a severe blow to our football team, particularly in light of the size and strength of Arizona State’s defense,” UCLA Coach Terry Donahue said. “We’ll certainly miss Sean and Kevin, but someone else will have to step up and do the job.”

Willlams, a junior with an injury-marred career at UCLA, is the team’s leading rusher. He has gained 599 yards in 90 carries for a 6.7-yard average.

Wills, a senior, has gained 350 yards in 56 carries for a 6.3-yard average. In the past two games against Oregon State and Arizona, the tailbacks have combined for 541 yards and an 8.2 average.

UCLA, 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the Pacific 10 Conference, matching Arizona State’s record, is striving to regain lost prestige. The same could be said of Arizona State, which had a 4-7 record last season, starting rumors that Coach Larry Marmie’s job was in jeopardy if he didn’t win this year.

So, UCLA and Arizona State, barely alive in the Rose Bowl race, are at the crossroads of their seasons, with five games to play.

“It’s an important game,” Donahue said. “If we win, we would have a real shot at a winning season and a bowl game. If we don’t, it will be a real setback.”

UCLA has dominated its series with Arizona State, compiling an 8-1-1 record. The Bruins are 4-0 in Tempe.

Arizona State is coming off a 17-3 loss to underdog Washington State here in a game in which the Sun Devils committed five turnovers, three inside the Washington State 20-yard line. The importance of turnovers can’t be minimized. Arizona State committed seven in its only other loss, to Nebraska, 18-9.

The Sun Devils’ defense, led by tackle Shane Collins and linebacker Shante Carver, has been their strong point this season. They rank second in the Pac-10 in passing defense, total defense and scoring defense. However, the offense has lagged since sophomore quarterback Bret Powers suffered a shoulder injury Sept. 28 in the third quarter of the Nebraska game.

Powers was replaced by Kurt Lasher, who led Arizona State to unimpressive victories over Utah, 21-15, and Oregon State, 24-7, and then threw three interceptions against Washington State.

Powers apparently has recovered and is expected to start against UCLA. His return should provide the Sun Devils with a much needed lift offensively. A premedical student with a 4.0 grade-point average, Powers completed 59.3% of his passes before he was injured.

He was a key player in Arizona State’s 32-25 victory over USC on Sept. 21 when he changed plays at the line of scrimmage against the Trojans’ eight-man front, enabling tailback George Montgomery to score on touchdown runs of 36 and eight yards on trap plays.

Montgomery, 6 feet 1 and 204 pounds, who has been injury-prone, gained 136 yards in 22 carries against USC and rushed for 128 yards against Washington State.

Donahue said there are similarities between his team and Arizona State.

“They play a similar defensive structure; they have a similar offensive philosophy and like to be balanced,” he said.

UCLA achieved a modest milestone by beating Oregon State, 44-7, last Saturday night, the first time the Bruins had won consecutive games since beating California and Arizona State in 1989. Three consecutive victories would indicate to Donahue that his program has been revived. A loss? He doesn’t even want to think about it.

Bruin Notes

Terry Donahue said cornerback Dion Lambert, who has been inactive because of a foot injury for several weeks, will be available today. He will play in situations in which UCLA uses five defensive backs. . . . Split end Michael Moore, who has been sidelined because of a shoulder injury, is able to play. . . . Free safety Othello Henderson is still out because of a hamstring injury.

Oregon State Coach Jerry Pettibone said after the UCLA game he didn’t think that Bruin quarterback Tommy Maddox should be used as an option runner. “There is a risk,” Donahue conceded, “but you have to be able to get the ball outside against defenses. I honestly don’t think Tommy is at more risk running the option than sitting in the pocket. The NFL has more quarterbacks go down to injury than colleges ever thought about having, and they never--or rarely--run options.” The option play has averaged about 15 yards a try this season for UCLA. Maddox said he doesn’t mind running the option as long as it isn’t a major aspect of the offense.

UCLA last played Arizona State in 1989, winning, 33-14, at the Rose Bowl. The Bruins didn’t win another game the rest of the season, finishing with a 3-7-1 record. That slide continued to a degree last year as UCLA had a 5-6 record. . . . Punter Courtney Keyler, who didn’t make the trip to Oregon State last week, has regained the punting job for now from Darren Schager. However, UCLA is in last place in the Pac-10 in net punting, averaging 33.1 yards.