Irish Defeat SMU, 61-29, as Brown, Beuerlein Star

Tim Brown scored twice and gained 235 all-purpose yards while Steve Beuerlein passed for a career-high 269 yards Saturday as Notre Dame routed Southern Methodist, 61-29.

“We beat a good football team today,” Notre Dame Coach Lou Holtz said. “And we did it in a good, sound way.”

The Irish (4-4) rushed for 6 touchdowns and 322 yards in running up their highest score since a 69-14 victory over Georgia Tech in 1977. It was the most points allowed by the Mustangs (5-4) since a 61-0 loss to Baylor in 1916.

One of Brown’s touchdowns came on an 84-yard pass play, Brown running the last 55 yards.

Notre Dame’s defense pressured quarterback Bobby Watters into two fumbles and two interceptions that the Irish turned into scoring drives.

John Carney kicked four field goals for the Irish.

The Irish scored 20 points in the second quarter on touchdown runs by Anthony Johnson and Brown and two Carney field goals to take a 30-14 halftime lead.

Johnson dived over the middle on fourth down for a one-yard score that put Notre Dame ahead for good, 17-14.

Seconds later, Irish linebacker Cedric Figaro recovered Watters’ fumble deep in Mustang territory, setting up the 15-yard run by Brown.

Watters’ interceptions set up Carney hit a 30-yard field goal and a seven-yard scoring run by Pernell Taylor as the Irish blew the game open.