McEwan Might Get His First Start

It appears Scott McEwan, a fifth-year senior, will make his first career start for UCLA Saturday at Washington State in a pivotal Pacific 10 Conference game between teams coming off their first losses.

McEwan threw for 221 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday’s 38-28 loss at Stanford after replacing Cory Paus, who injured his thumb on the Bruins’ last offensive play of the first half.

Paus said Monday he doesn’t think he will start, adding that he can’t hold a football well enough to throw it.

“Not once did I feel panicked,” McEwan said of effort against the Cardinal. “When Coach [Bob] Toledo said I was going in, I thought, ‘I’m ready, just do it.”’

Toledo expressed confidence in the career backup, whose only extensive action last season came against Fresno State and in the Sun Bowl.

This season, McEwan is 21 for 32 (65.6%) for 283 yards with an efficiency rating of 154.29.

“He knows the offense as well as anybody and he throws the ball extremely well,” Toledo said. “He could lead this football team and do quite well.”

Paus, in contrast, was not throwing well.

He was five for 16 in the first half Saturday and has been inaccurate on medium-range passes all season.

Toledo, however, said Paus will start if his thumb is healed by Friday.

“He’s experienced enough that he’d be able to run the offense even if he didn’t practice,” Toledo said. “He is the quarterback of our football team.”

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Two signal-callers besides Paus were injured against Stanford, and their absence could be more troubling for the Bruins. Strong safety Jason Stephens, a senior who has played in 38 games, is sidelined because of a foot injury, and senior center Troy Danoff, a three-year starter, probably will not play because of a separated shoulder and sprained ankle.

Stephens calls the coverages in the secondary and Danoff calls the blocking assignments at the line of scrimmage.

“Stephens is the quarterback of the secondary and Danoff is the quarterback of the line, so it hurts,” Toledo said.

Both would be replaced by redshirt freshmen, Danoff by John Ream and Stephens by Ben Emanuel.

“I know the defense because I’m used to making the calls with the second string,” Emanuel said. “Me and [free safety] Marques Anderson will get it done.”

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The prospects of other injured players are more promising.

Ryan Smith, who has emerged as the team’s most reliable receiver, is probable after suffering a separated shoulder against Stanford, and senior receiver Brian Poli-Dixon could be back after missing two games because of a dislocated shoulder. Guard Shane Lehmann, who sat out two games because of a sprained ankle, will start.