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Smith has a knack for carving up the Huskies CORVALLIS - Jonathan Smith can't explain it. Neither can his teammates or his coaches. But every time the Oregon State quarterback steps on the field against the Washington Huskies, he plays like he's a first-team All-American. Smith enjoyed his best game of the season Saturday at Reser Stadium when he completed 18 of 28 passes for 317 yards and two touchdowns in engineering a stunning, 49-24 victory over the visitors from Seattle. Not that anyone should have been surprised. Three years ago as an obscure redshirt freshman, Smith came off the bench to throw for a school-record 469 yards and three touchdowns and came within a last-second, two-point conversion pass of upsetting the Huskies. Two years ago he threw for 239 yards and one TD and last season he amassed 314 yards and three scores. The difference Saturday was that Smith walked off the field with a win. "I can't pinpoint it," Smith said when asked why he's racked up such big numbers each time he's faced the Huskies. "I don't prepare any differently or have a different mind-set against them. "It's just one of those quirky things, I guess." Smith's superlative performance Saturday could be traced to several factors, not the least of which was an OSU ground game that produced 180 yards. Thanks in large part to a vastly improved offensive line, Ken Simonton ran for 107 yards on 29 carries and freshman Steven Jackson added 86 yards on 22 attempts. Each scored three touchdowns. When you're getting that sort of production from your running game, play-action passes work effectively and you usually have a lot of time to pick out your receivers. Smith, who has been under a fierce pass rush much of this season, suffered no sacks and was knocked down only a couple of times Saturday. "The offensive line has improved a ton over the past few games," said OSU center Chris Gibson, one of the few veterans up front from a year ago. "To protect Jonathan like we did today really feels good. "He showed today what he can do when he can plant his feet and throw." Smith also benefited from another young group that is catching on - his receivers. James Newson has been the only Beaver receiver to play consistently this season, but Saturday eight other players besides Newson caught passes. Setting the tone was Cole Clasen, a 5-foot-8, 184-pound walk-on freshman from Lake Oswego, who hauled in a 47-yard pass on OSU's second play from scrimmage that set up the Beavers' first touchdown, a 3-yard run by Simonton. "Our plan coming into this game was to be aggressive and take some shots down field," said Smith, who throws the long ball about as well as any college QB in the country. "That's what we did, and our receivers made some great catches." Smith took his share of criticism earlier this season when the Beavers, who were projected to be among the top teams in the country, limped to a 1-3 start. Some fans were calling for Derek Anderson, the Beavers' prized freshman signal-caller, to get more playing time. Smith refused to point fingers, shrugged off the negativity and kept encouraging his teammates to just play their best each week. "Any time someone drops a ball, he just says, 'Keep your head up, you'll catch the next one,'" Newson said. "That's the mark of a great leader." Saturday's victory, OSU's first over the Huskies since 1985, isn't a cure-all for what has been a disappointing season. An unbeaten season, a trip to the Rose Bowl, Simonton winning the Heisman Trophy - those objectives vanished in the first three games when OSU was crushed by both Fresno State and UCLA. But the Beavers have won three of their past five games to improve to 4-5, and will qualify for their third bowl game in as many years if they can finish the regular season with victories over Northern Arizona this Saturday - a replacement game for the Sept. 15 cancellation against Montana State - and Oregon. This is a team with some fabulous freshmen - tailback Jackson, quarterback Anderson, wide receivers Clasen and Josh Hawkins, free safety Mitch Meeuwsen and defensive tackle Bill Swancutt - not to mention several other quality young players. In retrospect, it probably wasn't realistic to think that the Beavers could contend for the national championship and the Pac-10 title this year after their 11-1 record and Fiesta Bowl romp over Notre Dame a year ago. They were too young in too many areas. But with Smith fueling a revitalized offense, they're starting to regain their swagger. Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.