With top receiver Darius Reynolds sidelined Saturday for a violation of team rules, the ISU offense would need other playmakers to step up for freshman quarterback Jared Barnett.

The obvious candidates would be receivers Josh Lenz or Darius Darks. However, it was the unknowns who provided the spark for the ISU offense, a unit that struggled to score just one touchdown in Iowa State’s (5-4, 2-4 Big 12) 13-10 victory against Kansas.

“That group is coming along and is making plays with the ball in their hands after the catch,” said ISU coach Paul Rhoads about his young receiving corps.

Barnett completed 16 passes to seven different receivers Saturday, none of whom had the last name Lenz or Reynolds.

Albert Gary led the way with five catches for 57 yards after having only two catches for 19 yards in the eight games leading up to Saturday. Jarvis West, Aaron Horne and Chris Young also made major contributions to the passing game, combining for seven catches and 85 yards.

Darks, who had accounted for 12 catches, 92 yards and two touchdowns throughout the year, had just one catch for 22 yards on a play on which he fumbled the ball away to Kansas (2-7, 0-6). Meanwhile, Lenz — the Cyclones’ leading receiver with 32 catches prior to Saturday — didn’t touch the ball a single time.

“Missing [Reynolds] on the field, that’s always big,” Barnett said. “The guys came in and played great. All of our receivers can all play and it’s just a matter of getting them on the field and getting the ball to them.”

The receivers’ production speaks to a claim Rhoads has made since fall practice began, that his team has more playmakers than it ever has during his three-year tenure in Ames.

Prior to the season, coach Courtney Messingham switched from overseeing the tight ends to coaching the receivers.

“He gets the right people on the field in the right situations, he has confidence in all of his guys and I believe that shows,” Rhoads said. “When you have that in all of your players, they step up and play at a higher level.

“I told you before the season started, I thought we had more playmakers at that position group, and it’s starting to show.”

This was not the first instance of an ISU quarterback targeting seven or more receivers — eight in the 33-17 loss to Texas A&M on Oct. 22, most recently — but it was one of the most balanced efforts from the deep group of pass catchers.

“Us having a lot of playmakers on the field at one time, they can’t cover us all,” Gary said. “If one of us gets covered, the others will get open.”

Gary’s line jumped off the stat sheet following the game. His 57 yards were nearly three times his output prior to Saturday and was a career high, as were his five catches.

The sophomore from Ocala, Fla., found out about Reynolds’ suspension Friday and said coaches asked him to step up to fill the void left by the absence.

“I knew I had to just get in there and step up,” Gary said. “All through practice, I got more reps, and coach always told me, ‘Be ready, always be there, learn the plays more.’ So, I got in there and I knew I had to step up because he was out.”

Despite the increase in production, though, the ISU offense still only managed to find the end zone one time Saturday, an 18-yard reverse by Horne in the second quarter.

Horne’s rushing touchdown was the first by an ISU receiver since Lane Danielson ran one in against Texas in 2003.

“Aaron is a really explosive player,” Barnett said. “I have no idea how he got through that hole and it was a great run. All props to him on that one.”