Beavers complete the comeback.

Byline: Rob Moseley The Register-Guard

PHOENIX - The day before the Insight Bowl, Notre Dame coach Kent Baer called Oregon State one of the hottest teams in the country.

By Tuesday night, nobody was arguing.

After starting the season 1-4, the Beavers closed with victories in six of their last seven games, including their 38-21 win over the Irish at Bank One Ballpark. The team hit rock bottom after losses to Arizona State and Cal in the early going, but Tuesday's dominant performance had the Beavers and their coach smiling.

"I think this team has made its mark," OSU coach Mike Riley said, "and done it under some trying times. ... It was a very unique deal to come back like we did."

The capper was the big win in the bowl game, over a Notre Dame team that has lost some of the shine from its Golden Dome but nonetheless brought one of college football's grandest traditions into the game.

"From where we were at the end of the Cal game, to come back and finish this way is huge," OSU quarterback Derek Anderson said.

The Beavers did it Tuesday on the strength of a solid defense, big plays from their special teams and Anderson's right arm.

The big senior from Scappoose was named the game's offensive MVP, throwing for four touchdowns.

Notre Dame came into the game ranked 114th in the nation against the pass.

"Their ball skills weren't great at corner," Anderson said. "We knew we could get them turned around a few times."

Anderson threw two touchdown passes in the first quarter, both after big plays by the special teams.

The first followed a long punt return, and the second came after a blocked punt.

"We've been pretty solid on special teams," Riley said, " but hadn't made big plays like that. ... We've been a pretty good red zone team all year long, and we capitalized quick."

Still, the Irish wouldn't go away easily. Notre Dame scored late in the third quarter to pull to within 24-14, and the outcome seemed very much in question.

"I was impressed with how they kept making some plays to stay in the ballgame," Riley said.

But with the outcome in the balance, the Beavers responded with a 12-play, 90-yard drive that chewed up 5:23 from the game clock and made it 31-14 with 12:17 to go.

"That was the key part of the ballgame," Riley said. "Had we given it right back to them, it would have been very scary."

The OSU defense allowed one more late touchdown but overall had a good day. Notre Dame rushed for just 59 yards on 33 carries - a 1.8-yard average - and threw for 217 yards.

Notre Dame came into the game averaging 133.6 rushing yards per game, but the Beavers kept the Irish to less than half that average, and limited big plays in the passing game.

"We played the same way we do every game," said OSU linebacker Trent Bray, who was named the defensive player of the game. "There was a focus on stopping the run and making them throw the ball."

CAPTION(S):

Oregon State coach Mike Riley receives his ritual dousing near the end of Tuesday night's Insight Bowl win.