By Jim Ecker
Gazette sportswriter

AMES -- The Iowa State Cyclones thought this year's confrontation with Nebraska would be different.

They hoped, they prayed, and for three quarters it was much different. Then reality, and the powerful Cornhuskers, took control.

Iowa State's upset bid evaporated in the fourth quarter and Nebraska laid claim to the No. 1 spot in the country again with a 49-27 victory on a gray, cold, windy day before 50,074 fans at Jack Trice Stadium.

"Nobody around here is satisfied," ISU Coach Dan McCarney said. "We're sick and disappointed and upset.

"We went into this football game trying to win, not trying to be respectable or trying to close the gap."

Iowa State (4-1, 1-1) led 14-13 at halftime and trailed by a single point, 21-20, heading into the fourth quarter in a battle of unbeatens.

Then, poof. It disappeared. Nebraska (5-0, 2-0) scored four touchdowns in the fourth quarter, including a decisive pair in 74 seconds, to beat the Cyclones for the eighth straight time.

"I don't think we got worn out," said Iowa State defensive tackle Ryan Harklau. "They just started hitting on all cylinders. That's what got us.

"When you let an animal loose like Nebraska's offense and give them confidence, you're in trouble."

The Cornhuskers rolled up 184 of their 500 yards in the fourth quarter behind all-star quarterback Eric Crouch, who finished with 302 yards of total offense all by himself (164 passing and 138 rushing).

Iowa State quarterback Sage Rosenfels passed for 346 yards and two touchdowns and was not intercepted until his Hail Mary pass into the end zone on the final play of the game.

Rosenfels tied the fourth-best passing day in school history, but the Cyclones rushed for only 37 yards against Nebraska's Black Shirt defense.

"It seemed like we stopped ourselves more than they stopped us," Rosenfels said. "Little things. Penalties, dropped passes, me not reading the right guy."

Rosenfels' 53-yard touchdown pass to Craig Campbell and a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown by Jamarcus Powers gave Iowa State its 14-13 lead at halftime.

Nebraska took a 21-14 edge in the third period on Correll Buckhalter's 1-yard plunge and a 2-point conversion, but the Cyclones came right back.

Rosenfels directed an 80-yard drive into the stiff wind, capped by Ennis Haywood's 4-yard run to make it 21-20. But Mike McKnight missed the PAT and it was downhill from there.

Willie Miller scored with a 9-yard pitch from Crouch with 11:09 left in the game, then Buckhalter scored again 74 seconds later on another 1-yard plunge to make it 35-20.

Buckhalter's touchdown came shortly after ISU flanker Lane Danielson threw a flutterball on a trick play and had it intercepted.

Several of McCarney's gambles worked Saturday, including an on-side kick at the start of the game, but Danielson's pass failed miserably.

Crouch made it 42-20 with with a 1-yard run with 4:05 left, delighting the thousands of red-clad Nebraska fans who filled the temporary bleachers in the south end zone and the southeast corner of the stadium.

Rosenfels pulled Iowa State within 42-27 on a 15-yard touchdown pass to J.J. Moses, who caught 11 for 158 yards Saturday. But that was it for the Cyclones.

Jamaal Lord, Nebraska's second-string quarterback, finished the scoring with a 6-yard run with 1:01 left.

"It sure doesn't feel like a 50-point game. It really doesn't," said McCarney, who was blown out in his first five tries against the Cornhuskers by scores of 73-14, 49-14, 77-15, 42-7 and 49-14.

"So many more snaps that we played so much better than we ever have in the past," McCarney said. "But that's what happens when you play a real quality team like Nebraska. They can really put up points in a hurry."

The Cyclones think they made a statement Saturday, despite the loss.

"I think we proved that we can play the best in the country for the first three quarters," said ISU defensive back Dustin Avey. "Of course the fourth quarter tells the story.

"I think they were surprised. I don't think they expected us to come out and put up a fight at all."

Nebraska dropped from No. 1 to No. 2 in the AP poll last week, but the Cornhuskers will move up again with top-ranked Florida State losing to Miami Saturday.

"We seem to run into teams that play their best," Nebraska Coach Frank Solich said. "I really feel good about how our team has responded. We've had our backs to the wall and been put into corners."

Iowa State's Campbell caught three long passes from Rosenfels for 119 yards.

Haywood, who hurt his ribs in the first half, returned to the game but finished with only 27 yards on 11 carries. He began the game as the Big 12's leading rusher, with an average of 153.8 yards per game.

Kyle Vanden Bosch, a native Iowan, led Nebraska's defense with eight tackles, including four for losses. James Reed and Derrick Walker led the Cyclones with 10 stops apiece.