Booty isn’t looking for repeat

Quarterback John David Booty knows what it feels like to face a formidable UCLA pass rush.

In 2003, Booty’s freshman season, former Bruins end Dave Ball burst through untouched and broke Booty’s left wrist.

“It was just a screen and it was supposed to be a delay block, but there was no delay block,” Booty said Thursday. “He just basically picked me up and slammed me.”

Booty hopes to avoid a similar mishap on Saturday when the second-ranked Trojans play UCLA at the Rose Bowl. If USC wins, it is expected to advance to the Bowl Championship Series title game.

UCLA features defensive ends Justin Hickman and Bruce Davis, who have combined for 24 sacks.

USC tackles Sam Baker and Kyle Williams fared well this season against Nebraska ends Adam Carriker and Jay Moore, but the Bruins present a different challenge.

Carriker is 6 feet 6, 295 pounds, Moore 6-4, 280.

Hickman is 6-2, 263 pounds, Davis 6-3, 237 pounds.

“Nebraska’s were big strong guys; these are kind of lighter, real quick guys, almost opposites,” Baker said.

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Booty redshirted in 2004, so Saturday’s game will mark the first time that he will play against UCLA in the historic Rose Bowl. Booty, who grew up in Shreveport, La., is still getting acclimated to the USC-UCLA rivalry.

“I feel like a little bit of an outsider because I wasn’t around it growing up,” he said. “It wasn’t something that was talked about or anything like that. Obviously, I watched the game but didn’t really understand what it meant between the two universities. I’ve gotten a little taste of it over the last few years. I know it means a lot to a lot of people.”

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After the last regular-season practice, Coach Pete Carroll lamented how quickly the season seemed to have passed.

“It’s hard to imagine it’s gone by this fast. Gosh, all of a sudden it’s over,” he said.

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Running back Chauncey Washington (knee) said he put off having an MRI exam this week, but would have one next week if his condition shows no improvement. Washington said he would play on Saturday.... Senior center Ryan Kalil was named one of six finalists for the Rimington Trophy, presented annually to the nation’s top center. Michigan’s Mark Bihl, Ohio State’s Doug Datish, Arkansas’ Jonathan Luigs, West Virginia’s Dan Mozes and Rutgers’ Darnell Stapleton are other finalists. The winner will be announced next week at The Home Depot College Football Awards in Orlando, Fla. ... Safety Taylor Mays was selected to the Rivals.com Freshman All-American team. C.J. Gable was selected to the second team as a kick returner.

gary.klein@latimes.com