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Game Thread Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: Ohio State 34, Notre Dame 20 (final)

yahoo.com

1/2/06


<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=750 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=560>(4) Ohio St. 34, (5) Notre Dame 20

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=7><SPACER height="1" type="block" width="1"></TD></TR><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>(4) Ohio St. 34, (5) Notre Dame 20</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER height="1" type="block" width="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Preview - Box Score - Recap </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>By BOB BAUM, AP Sports Writer
January 2, 2006


TEMPE, Ariz. (AP ) -- Troy Smith found a measure of redemption with a dominating game against Notre Dame at the Fiesta Bowl.
The Ohio State quarterback, suspended from last year's Alamo Bowl for taking $500 from a booster, threw touchdown passes of 56 yards to Ted Ginn and 85 to Santonio Holmes and the fourth-ranked Buckeyes beat the No. 5 Irish 34-20 Monday night. It was Notre Dame's eighth consecutive bowl loss.

Smith, the offensive MVP, also sat out this year's opener, but has improved steadily ever since. He completed 19 of 28 passes for a career-high 342 yards and ran for another 66 in 13 attempts.


The junior from Cleveland capped his performance with a pair of third-and-long completions on the Buckeyes' final scoring drive. Antonio Pittman, who rushed for 136 yards in 21 carries, broke free on a 60-yard touchdown run to seal the victory with 1:46 to play.

Forget the stereotype of plodding but powerful Ohio State. The Buckeyes won with sheer speed.

Ginn caught eight passes for 167 yards, and added a 68-yard touchdown run on an end around to help the Buckeyes (10-2) to a 21-7 halftime lead en route to their third Fiesta Bowl victory in four years.

The intricate, efficient offense that first-year Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis brought with him from the New England Patriots sputtered early before the Irish mounted a comeback that cut the lead to seven in the fourth quarter.

A.J. Hawk, Ohio State's Lombardi Award-winning linebacker and the game's defensive MVP, sacked his girlfriend's brother, Brady Quinn, twice. Hawk also ran down Quinn to stop a third-down play early in the fourth quarter. Quinn, third-team all-American behind Matt Leinart and Vince Young of Texas, completed 29-of-45 for 286 yards but no touchdowns. Darius Walker gained 90 yards in 16 attempts and scored all three Notre Dame TDs. The Irish finished 9-3.
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The worst part about the game was Carp never got to see the field. He is a great player that deserved to play in his last game. I know he probably would not have been able to help us but i think it would have been great to get the ball back and throw him in the victory formation. A GREAT BUCKEYE!!!! Congrats seniors
 
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USAToday

1/2

Smith is difference as Ohio State tops Notre Dame in Fiesta TEMPE, ARIZ. (AP) — Troy Smith found a measure of redemption with a dominating game against Notre Dame at the Fiesta Bowl. The Ohio State quarterback, suspended from last year's Alamo Bowl for taking $500 from a booster, threw touchdown passes of 56 yards to Ted Ginn and 85 to Santonio Holmes and the fourth-ranked Buckeyes beat the No. 5 Irish 34-20 Monday night. It was Notre Dame's eighth consecutive bowl loss.
<table class="sidebar" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="4">
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</td> </tr> <tr> <td rowspan="2">
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</td> <td class="sidebar" valign="top" width="75">Notre Dame couldn't contain Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith during most of the Fiesta Bowl.</td> <td rowspan="2">
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</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="bottom">By Matt York, AP</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> Smith, the offensive MVP, also sat out this year's opener, but has improved steadily ever since. He completed 19 of 28 passes for a career-high 342 yards and ran for another 66 in 13 attempts.
The junior from Cleveland capped his performance with a pair of third-and-long completions on the Buckeyes' final scoring drive. Antonio Pittman, who rushed for 136 yards in 21 carries, broke free on a 60-yard touchdown run to seal the victory with 1:46 to play.
Forget the stereotype of plodding but powerful Ohio State. The Buckeyes won with sheer speed.
Ginn caught eight passes for 167 yards, and added a 68-yard touchdown run on an end around to help the Buckeyes (10-2) to a 21-7 halftime lead en route to their third Fiesta Bowl victory in four years.
The intricate, efficient offense that first-year Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis brought with him from the New England Patriots sputtered early before the Irish mounted a comeback that cut the lead to seven in the fourth quarter.
A.J. Hawk, Ohio State's Lombardi Award-winning linebacker and the game's defensive MVP, sacked his girlfriend's brother, Brady Quinn, twice. Hawk also ran down Quinn to stop a third-down play early in the fourth quarter.
Quinn, third-team all-American behind Matt Leinart and Vince Young of Texas, completed 29-of-45 for 286 yards but no touchdowns. Darius Walker gained 90 yards in 16 attempts and scored all three Notre Dame TDs. The Irish finished 9-3.
 
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Kudos to Notre Dame for turning their program around in one season. They earned their place in the bowl series (unlike so many unranked teams that are playing) and played hard against OSU.

Goddamn it was an exciting season to be a buckeye! Hold on a sec, I think I'm gonna cry. Okay, I'm alright, it's just that our boys played so well, pushing it on offense and defense. Crap, it's happening again . . .

:cry:

I love those guys!
 
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The worst part about the game was Carp never got to see the field. He is a great player that deserved to play in his last game. I know he probably would not have been able to help us but i think it would have been great to get the ball back and throw him in the victory formation. A GREAT BUCKEYE!!!! Congrats seniors

I think he got in at the end... I didn't see it but some others on here said they saw him on the field.
 
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