Toledo Likes What He Sees in McEwan

Scott McEwan didn’t win the starting quarterback job with his second-half showing against Fresno State last week, but he did win points with the Bruin coaching staff that already considered him a quality insurance policy.

It comes as more than gratuitous praise since McEwan could still have an important role Saturday against Michigan. If Ryan McCann falters, he could get an early hook for the second week in a row, putting McEwan back in a critical spot, just like when he helped turn a 10-7 halftime lead into a 24-21 victory over Fresno State.

“I thought Scott did some nice things,” Coach Bob Toledo said. “He’s not ready to beat out Ryan McCann yet, but he did some nice things. . . . He showed me some poise. He didn’t look panicky.”

McEwan was the third-stringer the week before and, if McCann plays well, probably will be again when Cory Paus returns from his separated shoulder, a month away according to the Bruins’ timetable. But he’ll always have Fresno State.

“After a couple series, I started feeling a lot more comfortable out there and things went a lot better,” McEwan said. “We started moving the ball a little bit. It’s just all about playing. Nothing surprised me out there, I was confident.”