(AP Photo/John Gress)
CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) -- Jonathan Smith passed for three touchdowns and ran for one more as Oregon State beat Arizona 28-20 on Saturday night to greatly improve its chances of playing in bowl game.

Jonathan Smith threw a 5-yard pass to T.J. Houshmandzadeh to tie the game at 7 after Arizona quarterback Keith Smith opened the scoring with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Bobby Wade six minutes into the game.

Jonathan Smith came back with a 65-yard pass to Roddy Tompkins in the second quarter, a 1-yard keeper in the third quarter and a 1-yard toss to tight end Martin Maurer with 6:51 in the third quarter for Oregon State (7-3, 4-3 Pac-10).

Arizona (6-5 overall, 3-4), hurt by penalties at crucial points throughout the game, also had two field goals of 35 and 34 yards from Sean Keel, and a 50-yard touchdown run by Trung Canidate with 4:36 left in the third quarter that closed the scoring for both teams.

The senior Arizona running back easily broke Ontiwaun Carter's school record of 3,501 rushing yards from 1991-94, finishing with 221 yards on 33 carries for the game and 3,666 career yards with one game remaining.

The Oregon State defense made two big plays to help the Beavers expand their lead in the third quarter.

An Oregon State punt took a wild bounce off Arizona defensive back David Laudermilk and the Beavers recovered on the Arizona 5 before Jonathan Smith scored on the keeper with 11:17 in the period.

Oregon State linebacker James Allen intercepted Keith Smith and returned it seven yards to set up a four-play, 41-yard scoring drive that ended on a 1-yard bootleg pass to tight end Martin Maurer for the TD.

Simonton set up the score with a 37-yard run on a draw that gave him the 12th game of his career with more than 100 yards rushing, and his eighth 100-plus game of the season.

Oregon State players and Oregon State Police had to circle both goalposts after the game to keep students from tearing them down, with some players and troopers forced to trade punches with unruly fans.