Lewis Is Starting Again at Tailback

Jermaine Lewis was reinstated as the starting tailback Monday, getting his old job back at the first available opportunity, two days after Keith Brown had minus-four yards in five carries at California.

It had been Lewis’ spot until he was suspended for the Oct. 10 game against Arizona for a fight at a party. Brown capitalized on that opening to rush for 91 yards and two touchdowns against the Wildcats and then 101 yards the next week against Oregon, but the bad showing against Cal cost him.

Lewis, averaging 90 yards a game and 5.1 a carry before the suspension, has been at three per attempt in the two outings since the return, while getting only 15 yards versus Oregon and 60 last Saturday in Berkeley.

“He deserved the opportunity to prove he could get it back,” Coach Bob Toledo said of Lewis. “It’s not that Keith didn’t do a good job. But Jermaine did a better job.”

Said Lewis: “It’s just a load off my shoulders. It’s something that I’ve always been working for.”

Toledo made another lineup change Monday, making Oscar Cabrera the starter at left guard again and moving James Ghezzi back to second string. Cabrera began the season in the opening lineup, before a sprained ankle knocked him out of action and gave Matt Phelan and then Ghezzi the chance at starting.

Ghezzi played well, but penalties against Cal and Cabrera’s improved health prompted Toledo to make the move.

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The 28 points in Berkeley marked the first time the Bruins did not reach 40 this season and were their fewest since the 27-7 victory at Stanford in the ninth game of 1997. Part of the problem was that their offense was forced to regularly start with bad field position, with six drives beginning inside the UCLA 10, thanks to Cal punter Nick Harris.

“You can gain 60 yards and still end up punting,” quarterback Cade McNown said. “It’s a tough situation.”

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Next Up For UCLA

Who: Stanford

Where: at Rose Bowl

When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m.

TV: FX

Radio: AM 1150