COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Walk-On Freshman Saves Oregon, 12-10 : Pacific 10: Kicker comes through as Oregon State shuts down Ducks’ high-powered offense.

Joshua Smith wasn’t even on the Oregon team when the season began.

Without him on Saturday, the 16th-ranked Ducks never would have escaped their “Civil War” against Oregon State with a 12-10 victory.

The walk-on freshman kicked four field goals, including the game-winner with 9:21 to play, as the Ducks clinched a berth in the Cotton Bowl.

“It’s a dream, it really is,” Smith said. “I can’t wait to wake up and read about it.”

First-year Coach Mike Bellotti, who moved up from offensive coordinator when Rich Brooks left for the St. Louis Rams after last year’s Rose Bowl season, wore a Cotton Bowl T-shirt and hat to the post-game interview.

“We didn’t sneak up on anybody this year,” he said. “We said all along that we needed to expect everybody to play their best games against us. I think pretty much everybody in the conference did that.”

The Ducks, 9-2 overall and 6-2 in the Pac-10, were 17-point favorites against the Beavers, who lost their 10th in a row. Since Oregon was 5-0 away from Autzen Stadium this season, the Ducks wore their green road pants against the Beavers, figuring their luck away from Eugene would follow them home.

But Oregon State (1-10, 0-8) shut down Oregon’s high-powered offense, especially when the Ducks drove deep into Beavers’ territory.

“I think we have the best defense in the Pac-10,” Oregon State Coach Jerry Pettibone said.