TEMPE, Ariz. - Led by Troy Smith and Ted Ginn Jr. on offense and AllAmerica A.J. Hawk on defense, Ohio State ran roughshod over Notre Dame in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, downing the Irish 34-20 in a game that wasn't as close as the final score indicated.
After Notre Dame opened with a 20-yard run by Darius Walker, it was all Ohio State.
Smith and Ginn saw to that. First they hooked up on a 56-yard scoring pass. Then Ginn gave the Buckeyes the lead for good on a dazzling 68-yard reverse. Smith connected with Santonio Holmes on an 85- yard pass that gave the Buckeyes a 21-7 lead at intermission. Had it not been for two fumbles and a blocked field goal, the margin might have been greater. A 60-yard TD run by Antonio Pittman sealed the win.
