By Blake Colston
Sports Editor
Conner Richards keeps rolling with the punches.
As he enters his junior season cemented as the starting quarterback at Casady School in Oklahoma City, the Piedmont native and resident is ready for a breakout season.
But it hasn’t been the most conventional path to get there.
Richards assumed he’d play for the hometown Wildcats. He had a successful middle school career for Piedmont and was poised to become a factor at the varsity level sooner rather than later for PHS.
But the summer before his freshman season, Piedmont’s coaching staff changed and the new regime brought in a run-heavy offense that didn’t suit Richard’s passing prowess well.
“No hard feelings at all with Piedmont, it just wasn’t the best fit for me,” he said.
Richards was on the move, but to where? Initially, PC North. The school was close to Piedmont and was a competitive 6A program. But after a handful of workouts with the Panthers, Richards decided it wasn’t the best spot for him.
That’s when Casady entered the picture. The Cyclones had an entrenched starting quarterback that Richards could learn under for two years. By Richards’ junior season, he’d be in line to start.
All went to according to plan during his freshman season, but things changed quickly before his sophomore year. Casady’s starting quarterback transferred to Oklahoma Christian School. Overnight, Richards became the Cyclones starting quarterback.
“I only had 45 days to get ready for the season,” Richards said. “My biggest weakness was my lack of experience.”
Still, Richards put together multiple 50-plus yard rushing performances and threw for touchdowns against Oakridge and Community Christian, among others, in a COVID-19-shortened season that saw Richards miss one game due to quarantine.
With a season starting under his belt, Richards said his ultimate goal, other than team success, is to earn a scholarship playing football.
He looks to be on the right track. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound junior, who also plays baseball at Casady, said he’s improved all aspects of his game since last season, especially his mobility.
With Richards leading the way, Casady went 3-0 in its latest set of 7-on-7 scrimmages, including a win against an OCS team which reached the Class 2A state semifinals in 2020.
The Cyclones first game of the 2021 is Aug. 27 against Carnegie. History says Richards is ready for whatever the season has in store for him.
“We’re excited to get going,” he said.
