COAST IS BARELY CLEAR PUNT RETURN BY BUSH LIFTS USC IN CLOSE CALL USC 28, OREGON STATE 20.

Byline: Scott Wolf Staff Writer

CORVALLIS, Ore. - A dense fog enveloped Reser Stadium on Saturday night, but it was nothing compared to the haze top-ranked USC appeared to be in from the outset against Oregon State.

The Beavers scored the first 13 points and seemed in danger of pulling off a major upset in front of 36,412.

Although the fog looked horrible on TV, it wasn't quite that bad on the field, although you wouldn't know from the way the Trojans started. USC fumbled twice, and quarterback Matt Leinart threw an interception as the Trojans joined No. 2 Oklahoma and No. 4 California in nail-biters.

But the fog didn't last forever, and neither did USC's funk. The Trojans scored 28 consecutive points in the final three quarters to wear down the Beavers 28-20.

The turning point was a 65-yard punt return by Reggie Bush that gave USC a 21-13 lead with 12:27 left in the game and eased thoughts the Trojans (9-0, 6-0) might lose for the first time.

It didn't have to be that difficult, but USC's offense certainly seemed out of sync in the first half.

A couple examples: Somehow, the Trojans got a delay-of-game penalty after linebacker Lofa Tatupu intercepted a pass in the third quarter. And in the second quarter, wide receiver John Walker got yanked off the field right before the snap on one play to avoid having 12 players on the field.

To add to the woes, kicker Ryan Killeen missed a 45-yard field goal and had another attempt blocked.

But even with those problems, Leinart's two touchdown passes to tight end Dominique Bird provided a razor-thin 14-13 lead in the fourth quarter before Bush's heroics.

Bird, chastised by USC coach Pete Carroll on Friday for making too many one-handed catches in practice, caught a 25-yard touchdown pass with two hands to give the Trojans a one-point lead with 12:14 remaining in the third quarter. It was USC's first lead of the game.

Previously, Bird got a measure of satisfaction by making a terrific one- handed touchdown catch on an 18-yard pass in the second quarter that cut Oregon State's lead to 13-7.

The Beavers (4-5, 3-3) were ready from the outset, and sometimes a little lucky, as a strange play contributed to their first touchdown. Quarterback Derek Anderson completed a 37-yard pass to tight end Joe Newton, who was stripped of the ball by safety Darnell Bing. But wide receiver Mike Hass recovered and ran an additional 14 yards.

That set up Anderson's 8-yard touchdown pass to Marcel Love over the middle that gave the Beavers a 13-0 advantage.

Typical of close games, the Trojans' special teams faltered. Killeen's 43-yard field-goal attempt was easily blocked by Mitch Meeuswen, who strolled right through a hole in the line.

That wasn't the only miscue. For the third time in four games, Bush fumbled a punt and it led to the Beavers' first score. Bush signaled for a fair catch, but the ball went right through his hands and was recovered by Oregon State's Gerard Lawson at the Trojans' 18-yard line.

The Beavers reached the 3 before the drive stalled and settled for a 25-yard field goal by Alexis Serna and a 3-0 lead.

Oregon State added another field goal after Anderson completed a 25-yard pass to Hass and a 15-yard penalty on defensive end Frostee Rucker for roughing the passer. Serna converted a 33-yard attempt to give the Beavers a 6-0 lead with 1:41 left in the quarter.

The Trojans barely had the ball in the first quarter, running just nine plays as the Beavers dominated time of possession, 10 minutes, 2 seconds to 4:58.

Bush also fumbled in the second quarter after catching a pass, but officials ruled he was down. Replays indicated he lost control of the ball before hitting the ground.

The sophomore tailback electrified the crowd on the next possession, though, by taking a reverse handoff and eluding three tackles for a 44-yard gain.

That play provided USC with its first touchdown. Leinart threw 18 yards over the middle to Byrd, who made a one-handed catch as he dove in the end zone. It was the first sign of life in USC's offense and cut the Beavers' lead to 13-7.

As the half concluded, USC drove toward a potential game-leading touchdown, but Leinart's pass intended for Jason Mitchell was intercepted by Meeuswen.

Leinart completed 11 of 20 passes for 94 yards with one touchdown and one interception in the first half. Anderson was 12 for 24 for 154 yards and one touchdown.

USC's defense stifled the run, as the Beavers were held to minus-1 yard net rushing in 17 attempts. Leading rusher Dwight Wright gained 6 yards in seven carries.

Scott Wolf, [phone]

scott.wolf(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, 2 boxes

Photo:

(1 -- color) USC tight end Dominique Byrd pulls in a touchdown pass over Oregon State's Brandon Browner.

Rick Bowmer/Associated Press

(2) It appears as if there are no fans at Reser Stadium as Oregon State's Derek Anderson drops back to pass. Fans were concealed by the dense fog.

Don Ryan/Associated Press

Box:

(1) STORY LINES

(2) CLOSE CALLS