Jan. 1, 2001

By LANDON HALL
AP Sports Writer

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) – Jonathan Smith passed for 246 yards and a disputed 74-yard touchdown to Chad Johnson as No. 5 Oregon State dominated No. 10 Notre Dame for a 12-3 halftime lead in the Fiesta Bowl on Monday night.

Smith threw to Johnson, who got open near the sideline when cornerback Clifford Jefferson reached for the ball and missed. Johnson had a clear path to the end zone, but he tossed the ball away before he crossed the goal line.

Notre Dame coach Bob Davie complained, but the play stood.

The Irish managed just 33 yards until the final possession of the half, when they drove 65 yards on 15 plays, with help from a personal foul on Calvin Carlyle.

Nick Setta kicked a 29-yard field goal as time ran out to cut the lead to 12-3. A 40-yard catch and run by Javin Hunter set up the score.

Oregon State moved inside the Notre Dame 15 three times but came away with just two field goals. The Beavers had a first and goal from the 5, but couldn’t score, as Patrick McCall was stuffed by Ron Israel on fourth down.

Oregon State blew a chance to get the ball back late in the half when Carlyle was hit with a penalty after the Irish had failed on third-and-31 from their own 2. That gave Notre Dame an automatic first down, and led to their only score.

The Beavers (10-1), playing their first major postseason game since the 1965 Rose Bowl, outgained Notre Dame 278-98. Smith completed 12 of 17 passes, with T.J. Houshmandzadeh catching five for 51 yards and Marty Maurer catching three for 82 yards.

Matt LoVecchio was just 5-of-13 for 79 yards for the Irish (9-2), who had won seven straight and were trying for their first bowl victory since the 1994 Cotton Bowl.