AMHERST, N.Y. — A well-established unwritten rule in sports demands that injured players not lose their starting position because of injury.
John Alan Richter tried to test that edict on Saturday in a 30-15 loss at Buffalo, with a trip to Northern Illinois looming.
In his first extended playing time, the third-year sophomore led a valiant comeback attempt, completing 16 of 23 passes for 227 yards and two touchdowns. He was responsible for nearly 60 percent of UT’s 418 total yards despite only playing three possessions.
“I was just trying to chip away, trying to get the ball moving, trying to score touchdowns,” the Georgia native said. “Just tried to get the guys rolling, tried to get a spark going. That’s what my goal was.”
Richter finds Newton for the second time this half! Toledo converts on the ensuing 2-point attempt.
— Toledo Football (@ToledoFB) October 12, 2024
BUF 30, TOL 15 | 4Q 5:08#TeamToledo pic.twitter.com/OaQwMsPqL0
If there’s any quarterback controversy at Toledo — and head coach Jason Candle hasn’t intimated that there is — it’s not because Tucker Gleason is playing poorly. He has completed more than 60 percent of his passes for 1,200-plus yards with 13 touchdowns and four interceptions. The uncertainty is because Gleason suffered an unspecified injury and Richter was so sterling in relief.
Before he entered the game, Toledo had six punts, two turnovers on downs, and a fumble. A less-than-efficient offensive line rendered the run game nonexistent.
With Richter, the resurgent Rockets scored two touchdowns and were stopped inside the red zone on their last drive, as backup created enthusiasm and energy on the field.
“When you’ve got a quarterback who’s trying to lift everybody up and bringing the energy like that, you can’t really do anything else but give the energy back to them and want to do your best,” said Jerjuan Newton, who had a career day with seven receptions for 159 yards and two touchdowns.
Perhaps most impressive was Richter’s ability to throw open receivers and his touch in the intermediate passing game. He completed passes of 2, 2, 3, 4, 6, 6, 6, 7, 8, 8, 10, 11, 23, 26, 29, 39, and 41 yards.
With Richter at QB, the Rockets had nine first downs, and they were 3 for 6 on third down and 2 for 3 on fourth down.
“A lot of poise, a lot of composure,” Candle said. “We’re in a scenario right there where 95 percent of the plays are pass plays. And they’re drop-back passes, not play-action. There’s not a running game. The other 21 guys on the field know what’s up. So for him to hang in there and make some of those throws, I was happy for him.
“I’m impressed by his poise and his composure. But he practices that way. He’s attention to detail. I wouldn’t expect anything less when he goes in there.”
Entering Saturday, Richter had only thrown 10 college passes — but he completed nine of them, including all six attempts for 77 yards and a touchdown in the season opener against Duquesne. Even tethered to the bench, his name has been uttered by many people inside the program for his prowess at practice.
Richter had a combined 5,330 yards and 53 touchdowns during his junior and senior seasons of high school.
Could it be more of the same in college?
“I’ve been waiting for three years now, and it’s just awesome,” Richter said. “I hate that Tucker got injured, but it was awesome just to get in there and play.”
First Published October 12, 2024, 11:54 p.m.
