After two weeks of harsh criticism, the ISU offense silenced its critics with one schoolyard play.

With just under two minutes to play, Iowa State’s third-string quarterback and spot-duty wide receiver Phillip Bates made Iowa pay for its decision to try to cover him with linebacker Mike Klinkenborg.

“I was like, ‘Linebacker on me, there’s a linebacker on me, just throw it to me,'” Bates said. “We didn’t have that play in there right away, we just drew it up in the dirt right before.”

ISU quarterback Bret Meyer threw a bomb up for grabs that Bates snagged over Klinkenborg for a 38-yard gain to the Iowa 16-yard line, setting up the winning field goal for the Cyclones.

“We noticed through the game they were putting a linebacker on him when we had [five wide receivers in],” Meyer said.

“We made an adjustment five minutes before that play. He said, ‘On this drive, if we get that coverage, tap the top of your head.’ He came back and executed and it worked out.”

Not a bad adjustment for a guy who’s also supposed to be a quarterback.

“I’m here to do whatever they need me to do,” Bates said. “Whatever we need to win games, I’ll do it. They called my number and I had to make a play.”

Meyer’s pass initially looked to be too long, and then too short, but Bates jumped over Klinkenborg to make the catch after what he said seemed like forever.

“I thought it was over my head,” Bates said. “But it just kept getting closer and closer and I went up and got it.

“The whole time I was thinking just make the play. Do it for your teammates and the seniors that worked hard for four years and now it’s my time to help out.”

ISU coach Gene Chizik had taken some heat after the first two games for using Bates, who is a true freshman, on just a few plays, effectively ending his chance to redshirt this year.

Now, Chizik said, we’ve seen what is the start of a bright career.

“Phillip made a great play and what an awesome game to make it in,” Chizik said. “He’s a great athlete. He’s going to have a great career here. He just made a play and it couldn’t have come at a better time.”

Fellow receiver Todd Blythe said Bates is a great athlete and the team knew it could take advantage of the coverage if Iowa kept using a linebacker to cover the speedy Bates.

“We know the kind of athlete he is, and if they want to put a linebacker on him, I don’t think he’s ever even played receiver in his life,” Blythe said. “We knew with the matchup with a linebacker he could make a play.”

Blythe said he saw the play happen out of the corner of his eye while running his route, and couldn’t resist a little jab at Bates during the post-game press conference.

“Yeah, I saw it,” Blythe said. “I saw Phil wandering around lost out there. The ball came down and he snagged it and made a play for us.”

The play and the linebacker coverage were set up by Iowa State’s scheme to spread the field. The Cyclones frequently went with four or five receivers and empty backfields, spreading the defense and leaving open spots in the middle of the field.

“We just wanted to give them a few new looks that we thought would be able to spread the field out a little bit and get some guys out in space,” Chizik said. “I think coach McFarland had a phenomenal game plan and the kids really took it to heart today, trying to execute exactly what we had planned.”

Or, in Bates’ case, what wasn’t planned.

“The play doesn’t even have a name,” Bates said. “I don’t know, we’ll have to name it [on Sunday].”