MINNEAPOLIS — Not much was said by the Iowa State football players as they left the field after a 53-29 loss to Minnesota Saturday night at the Metrodome.

Not one word was spoken by anyone on the team, outside the occasional barking and/or pleading of an assistant coach.

It was as if the only sound heard was the echo between the walls as players filed by, en route to the visiting locker rooms. The march had all the ambience of a funeral procession.

In the distance were the yells and the screams of the Minnesota players celebrating their victory in their locker room.

Minnesota had scored 25 unanswered fourth-quarter points to win the game, after ISU had led, 29-28, going into the fourth quarter. The loss dropped ISU’s record to 0-3, and improved Minnesota’s to 1-1.

“I thought we played pretty well until the fourth quarter came, but you got to learn how to finish up games” said ISU receiver Ed Williams after emerging from the locker room 15 minutes later.

Williams had given ISU a 29-28 lead with 56 seconds remaining in the third quarter when he pulled in a 45-yard touchdown reception from Todd Bandhauer. Minnesota cornerback Jimmy Wyrick was turned around on the play on coverage, and Bandhauer lofted the ball to the outstretched arms of Williams.

“I told coach I was going to beat them deep, and they called the play, and I just went up and got the ball and it was a touchdown,” Williams said.

Williams, who stands 6 feet 3 inches, said his height advantage over the 5 feet 9 inch Wyrick helped him on the play.

“I kept on telling the coach that I have a smaller (defensive back) on me, to go deep, go deep,” Williams said. “We finally went deep and the result was a touchdown.”

Williams finished with four receptions for 82 yards and two touchdowns, he had another 15-yard touchdown grab in the second quarter.

Bandhauer finished with decent stats, he completed 21 of 35 passes for 295 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. But two Bandhauer fumbles in the fourth quarter and some untimely sacks proved very costly for the Cyclones.

“We had some pass-protection breakdowns in the fourth quarter,” Iowa State Coach Dan McCarney said. “But, of course, Minnesota had a lot to do with that.”

Bandhauer’s first fumble came on the first play from scrimmage after Thomas Hamner’s 34-yard touchdown run had given the Gophers a 36-29 lead with 12:48 left in the game.

Bandhauer took the snap from reserve center Charlie Bogwill, stumbled a little, and immediately fumbled the ball to Minnesota linebacker Sean Hoffman.

“The fumble was totally my fault,” Bandhauer said. “I pulled my hands out way too fast, it wasn’t Charlie’s fault.”

Hoffman recovered the ball at the ISU 35-yard line and four plays later Minnesota placekicker Adam Bailey kicked a 52-yard field goal to put Minnesota ahead, 39-29. Minnesota started just two of its five touchdown drives in its own territory

“It’s difficult when they get that close, because at least, they’re going to get a field-goal shot,” said Iowa State linebacker Michael Cooper, who had three tackles and a fumble recovery. “Your back is up against the wall and every little mistake is going to cost a touchdown.”

On ISU’s next possession, Bandhauer completed a 13-yard reception to Williams for a first down at the ISU 30-yard line.

Following the first down, Bandhauer was sacked three straight times for a total loss of 27 yards. In all, Bandhauer was sacked six times for a loss of 53 yards.

“I’ve got to get rid of the ball quicker, the offensive line can’t hold forever,” Bandhauer said. “No offensive line can be able to hold a defensive line forever. When we hold them for six or seven seconds, I’ve got to get rid of the ball.”

Almost forgotten in the barrage of Minnesota points in the fourth quarter, is the fact that Gopher kick returner returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in the second and third quarters.

His first touchdown came on a 89-yard return after a 48-yard field goal by Jamie Kohl.

His second touchdown return was for 93 yards and gave Minnesota a 28-22 lead with 3:29 left in the third quarter, after Tyrone Watley had gone untouched on a short-slant screen pass from Bandhauer for a 81-yard touchdown.

“When you have a nice six, seven-minute (touchdown) drive and then they come and score in, like, five seconds, it’s tough,” Williams said.

Watley finished with 149 yards on nine receptions.

Most of Watley’s catches, outside of the 81-yard scoring play, came on short slants to the far side of the field in a ball-control style offense.

“We did a pretty good job of ball control throughout the first three quarters and really had a breakdown in the fourth quarter,” Watley said.

“We made a conscience effort to not turn the ball over, just play ball-control football. I think every time we play ball-control football, we are a pretty good offensive team,” he added.

Preston Rhamy led Iowa State with 12 tackles, Chin Achebe and Dave Brcka both had eight.

The Cyclones battle Iowa this Saturday at home.