By Mike Hlas
Gazette sports columnist

AMES -- The 49 points and 500 yards surrendered to Nebraska Saturday lead us to believe it was the same old Iowa State.

The Cornhuskers putting up 49 and 500 on the Cyclones is as common as a traffic-choking convoy of head-to-toe red-draped Nebraskans descending on Ames every time the Huskers play here.

Last year it was Nebraska 49, Iowa State 14. This year it was 49-27. Some improvement, huh?

Well, yes it was. Last year the Huskers were up 28-0 at halftime and 49-0 early in the fourth quarter. This year the Cyclones led 14-13 at the half and trailed by just 21-20 entering the final 15 minutes.

For three quarters, this was a fascinating, fun game that made everybody's palms sweat on a cold day. Nebraska looked terrific one moment, vulnerable the next. Iowa State appeared resolute one drive, unsure the next.

Then came Nebraska's 28-point fourth-quarter avalanche. It wasn't set off by a missed ISU extra point try midway through the third period, but the botched Mike McKnight boot seemed symbolic.

A national-title contender like Nebraska doesn't miss extra points. Ever. Iowa State missed one to fail to tie the game with 6:46 left in the third quarter. Nebraska clung to its 21-20 lead for a while, then tore off four touchdown drives in the fatal fourth.

In the final period we saw all-too-familiar sights like Nebraska physically wearing out the Cyclone defense, Husker rushing numbers growing like weeds, and an ISU offense that couldn't rush for yards the way it had against Iowa or Baylor.

And yet, this was at least a contest. Until the final 10 minutes, neither side led by more than eight points. Even with their 500 yards, the Huskers were stymied on offense on many occasions, and reached the end zone just once in seven first-half possessions.

This game was no cause for Cyclone handstands. Nor, however, should they use their hands to hold their heads. Finally, they can again compete with Nebraska. If, that is, they regard this result with no more significance than their four wins.

"There can't be a hangover with this team," ISU Coach Dan McCarney said. "There can't be. We can't allow it, and I won't allow it."

"They're a great team," Cyclone senior safety Dustin Avey said. "In the past, we've been blown out in the first five minutes of the game. We came out ready to go. We played hard, we fought hard, we were tough and did everything we needed to except in the fourth quarter."

Except in the fourth quarter.

Anti-Huskers have always been fond of joking that the 'N' in Nebraska stands for "knowledge." But today it will also again stand for "Number One." For now, anyhow. Those upcoming trips to Oklahoma and Kansas State look imposing.

But you can't discount those woolly mammoths known as the Huskers' offensive line, or that defense, or those bruising running backs. And you especially shouldn't overlook junior quarterback Eric Crouch.

With an average Nebraska quarterback, Iowa State might have won this game. But Crouch kept making play after play with his cobra-quick reflexes and cheetah-blurry quickness on the option, and passing that seemed to be better when Saturday's strong wind was blowing right into his mouthpiece.

"We've got ourselves a great one there," soft-spoken Huskers Coach Frank Solich admitted. "We know it and the people in Nebraska know it, and I think people around the country are getting to where they know it."

The Big 12 is chock-full of splendid quarterbacks, but save a place at the table for Iowa State senior Sage Rosenfels. Without any semblance of the ground game Crouch enjoyed leading Saturday, Rosenfels battled hard with a figurative arm tied behind his back, passing for 346 yards and two touchdowns.

"Toughness," "leadership" and "talent" were words Solich used to describe Crouch. The same three apply to Rosenfels.

"(Iowa State) threw the ball really well today," Solich said. "They have a team that can make big plays, and when they had to they made their share of them."

He is gracious, but Solich isn't the type to coat his thoughts with sugar before uttering them.

"I think (McCarney) has brought his football team along," Solich said. "I think that's evident to most football people.

"They're certainly improved. I think they played with a great deal of confidence today.

"We were able at the end to get control of the football game, but they never let it just cave in on them."

Which, of course, is exactly what the Cyclones did the first five years McCarney sent them against Nebraska.

Dog bites man, Nebraska beats Iowa State. At least the Cyclones kept biting back for three quarters Saturday. If they tack on another quarter in their remaining games, they'll be playing in late December.