TEMPE, Ariz. — FINAL SCORE: Iowa State 14, Minnesota 13

The Cyclones have won the 2009 Insight Bowl, thanks in part to a MarQuies Gray fumble and the ability of a few of their playmakers to seal the victory. The win was Iowa State’s first bowl win since the 2004 victory over Miami (Ohio).

Head coach Paul Rhoads was elated after the game, exclaiming once again he was “proud to be” Iowa State’s football coach during the presentation of the Insight Bowl Trophy. The announcement was made in front of the Iowa State faithful that made the trip to Tempe — a large portion of the 45,090 announced in attendance at the game.

Also joining Rhoads on the temporary stage were running back Alexander Robinson and defensive end Christopher Lyle.

Robinson was named Offensive Player of the Game after his 22-carry, 137-yard performance. Many of Robinson’s rushing yards came late in the game with Iowa State clinging to a one point lead when it was simply trying to run out the game clock.

Lyle was named Defensive Player of the Game after tallying five tackles, a sack and two tackles for loss in the impressive defensive effort by the Cyclones. The Cyclones’ best defensive efforts came in the first half, though, in which they held the Gophers to just 148 yards.

Quarterback Austen Arnaud might have garnered consideration for offensive MVP honors had he not turned the ball over four times — twice on fumbles and twice on interceptions. Arnaud also accounted for both ISU touchdowns on a nine-yard run and a 38-yard pass to Jake Williams. Arnaud rushed for 99 yards on 21 carries and passed for 216 yards on 19-of-26 passing.

Williams led the way for the ISU wideouts, grabbing six passes for 83 yards and the touchdown. Meanwhile, senior Marquis Hamilton had four catches for 32 yards in his final game in Cardinal and Gold.

4:00 4Q — (Iowa State 14, Minnesota 13) — After a big stop by the Minnesota defense, freshman quarterback MarQuies Gray fumbled the ball back to the Iowa State offense, which has gone on the march to kill the clock and has worn it down all the way to 1:37.

However, Minnesota just used its final timeout to stop the clock at 1:37, so the Cyclones, who are facing second and eight, can seal the victory if they can get one first down.

8:56 Fourth Quarter — (Iowa State 14, Minnesota 13) — The Cyclones were driving when a screen pass to Alexander Robinson ended in what the officials ruled — after much debate — as a fumble.

The play went to review, and the call was overturned, meaning that Iowa State will have a first and ten at the 30 yardline.

0:00 3Q — (Iowa State 14, Minnesota 13) — Minnesota’s Eric Ellestad inched the Gophers closer to Iowa State with a 21-yard field goal on a drive that followed another Austen Arnaud turnover.

For the second time in the game, Arnaud fumbled the ball away on a promising drive for the Cyclones, and Minnesota took little time in driving down and putting three points on the board.

The Cyclones have yet to score in the second half, and the defense has appeared less stout, as the yardage margin is now 334–319 in favor of Iowa State. Much closer than the 113-yard deficit at the end of the first half.

The second half will begin with the Cyclones on offense at their own 35 yardline.

5:22 3Q — (Iowa State 14, Minnesota 10) — For the first time in 11 quarters, the Golden Gophers scored an offensive touchdown on a 23-yard pass to tight end Nick Tow-Arnett.

The pass was set up by a 40-yard pass on a fake punt and cuts into Iowa State’s lead that the Cyclones had held since late in the first half.

The touchdown for Minnesota was their its first since the third quarter of its 35–32 loss to Illinois on Nov. 7.

5:30 3Q — (Iowa State 14, Minnesota 3) — Despite good defensive play to force a Minnesota three-and-out, Minnesota got one of its biggest plays of the game.

The Gophers lined up in their regular punt formation, but a throw to the right side of the field resulted in a 40-yard gain and a first down for Minnesota, setting the Gophers up at the 24 yardline in Iowa State territory.

8:38 Third Quarter — (Iowa State 14, Minnesota 3) — Iowa State got a 30-yard run from Alexander Robinson on its opening series of the second half, only to fumble the ball away on the next play on a botched exchange between Robinson and Arnaud.

On Minnesota’s next possession, the Gophers moved to the ISU 17 yardline with relative ease before stalling out on incomplete passes on second and third down — including a pass that sailed high over a receiver’s head in the end zone.

Then, the drive further stalled out with a missed 34-yard field goal try that gave the ball back to the Iowa State offense.

Halftime — (Iowa State 14, Minnesota 3) — Iowa State mounted a one minute drive to end the first half that was capped by a 38-yard touchdown pass from Arnaud to Jake Williams to make the lead 14–3 in favor of the Cyclones.

The drive also featured a Darius Darks sighting, as the sophomore and 2008’s leading receiver grabbed two passes for 38 yards on the drive.

The Cyclones outgained Minnesota 261–148 in the first half, highlighted by a 99–19 advantage in rushing yards, led by Arnauds 54 yards on 13 carries.

Iowa State is now just 30 minutes of game time away from its first bowl win since a 2004 victory over Miami (OH) in the Independence Bowl.

Minnesota has now gone its last 10 quarters without scoring an offensive touchdown.

1:23 2Q — (Iowa State 7, Minnesota 3) The ISU defense is bailed out by a high-and-wide throw from Minnesota quarterback Adam Weber resulting in an interception by ISU safety David Sims.

The Cyclones now have just over a minute to either kill or use to end the half, although it looks as if they will try to go down the field to possibly get in field goal range.

4:36 2Q — (Iowa State 7, Minnesota 3) — Iowa State goes 10 plays and 67 yards in just over four minutes of game time to take the lead over Minnesota on a rushing touchdown by Austen Arnaud.

The Cyclones used the fleet feet of Arnaud and Alexander Robinson on the drive, as the two led the way by running for much of the 67 yards covered on the drive.

Arnaud did convert one long third down with a pass to Jake Williams and hit Derrick Catlett on a second down inside Minnesota’s 20 yardline to set up his nine-yard touchdown run.

12:54 Second Quarter — (Minnesota 3, Iowa State 0) — Another interception from Arnaud put the Gophers’ offense on the field.

The ISU defense stood tall and held Minnesota to a punt. However, on the return, the Cyclones committed a penalty, pushing them back to the 18 yardline to start their next series.

Minnesota has combined for -2 yards on its drives since the field goal early in the first.

0:00 FQ — (Minnesota 3, Iowa State 0) — The ISU defense stood tall in the first quarter, holding Minnesota to just 54 total yards, 41 of them coming on the pass to McKnight.

ISU cornerback Leonard Johnson made a play on the ball across the field to tip it just before McKnight caught it, as well, preventing him from scoring on the play.

Iowa State had 97 yards in the quarter, and looked good offensively except for when it committed penalties, which the Cyclones did four times in the quarter.

Arnaud is now 6-of-7 passing — with the lone incompletion being and interception — for 53 yards. Robinson has 25 yards on six carries. Arnaud has 24 yards on six carries.

ISU punter Mike Brandtner switched field position with a 52-yard punt late in the quarter, pinning Minnesota inside their own 20.

8:31 FQ — (Minnesota 3, Iowa State 0) — On Minnesota’s first offensive possession, the Gophers drove six plays and 55 yards — helped by a 41-yard pass from quarterback Adam Weber to Da’Jon McKnight — to set up a 36-yard field goal by Eric Ellestad to put them up 3–0 with just over eight minutes left in the first quarter.

10:24 First Quarter — (Iowa State 0, Minnesota 0) — Iowa State drove 53 yards on its opening possession of the game before being stopped on a fourth down try at Minnesota’s 31 yardline. Now, the Gophers take over with a chance to take the game’s first lead.

On the opening drive, ISU quarterback Austen Arnaud was 2-of-2 passing for 20 yards, all to receiver Jake Williams. Tailback Alexander Robinson had 15 yards on four carries while Arnaud had 18 yards on four carries.

30:00 min. Pre-game: It’s 30 minutes before kickoff here in the Valley of the Sun, and both teams have finished warming up.

While it’s a toasty 11 degrees in Ames according to the Weather Channel’s website, it is 63 degrees at Sun Devil Stadium on the campus of Arizona State University, and it feels warmer than that down on the field out of the breeze.

The players act anxious and excited, something that is to be expected in the program’s first bowl appearance since 2005 and the first time any of these players will have participated in a post-season game.

The Cyclones have wrapped up their on-field preparations and head to the locker room, aided by the cheers of the smattering of ISU fans that have begun to trickle into the seats. Iowa State sold around 8,500 of it’s 10,000 allotted tickets. It has been reported Minnesota was only able to sell around 1,500.