Freshmen to Get New Introduction

There’s only one certainty when Matt Ware covers Reggie Williams on Saturday. Youth will prevail.

Ware, a 6-foot-3 cornerback, is UCLA’s only true freshman starter. Williams, a receiver, is the first Washington freshman ever to start his first college game.

Both have proven they belong.

Ware has an interception, has broken up three passes and has not been beat deep since a meaningless score in the last minute of the season-opener against Alabama.

Williams, a big receiver at 6-4, 215 pounds, had four catches for 134 yards against Michigan in his debut and has 17 catches for 375 yards and one touchdown this season.

Ware and Williams met last year during a recruiting trip to UCLA.

“He was going to Washington from the get-go and he was already talking then,” Ware said. “But he is good. He’s done a lot of good things already.”

Ware plays boundary corner, meaning he lines up on the short side of the field. Ricky Manning, a 5-9 junior, plays on the wide side. Both will cover Williams during the game.

“[Williams] has unbelievable size and speed, he’s like a bigger Freddie Mitchell,” UCLA Coach Bob Toledo said. “Matt has the height and Ricky has the experience. They’ll both have a challenge.”

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Washington running back Willie Hurst is familiar with playing for a talented team.

As a Compton Dominguez High senior in 1998, he was the point guard on a basketball team whose starting lineup also included NBA lottery pick Tyson Chandler, Nevada Las Vegas quarterback Jason Thomas and Kentucky All-American forward Tayshaun Prince.

Hurst, a senior, is the Huskies’ second-leading rusher this year with 123 yards, giving him 1,708 in his career.

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UCLA is offering two free tickets to Saturday’s game to any firemen or law enforcement officers in the Los Angeles area. The tickets can be picked up at will call by showing identification. ... The UCLA game at Stanford on Oct. 26 has been changed to 12:30 p.m. to accommodate ABC.