Backup quarterback Joel Lanning made a statement Saturday night.

In the first quarter against No. 3 Texas Christian, Lanning entered the game at quarterback for just two plays. The first was a one-yard run up the middle.

The second was a 74-yard touchdown pass to Allen Lazard — the first of his career.

“It was a good first touchdown pass,” Lanning said. “I’m glad Lazard caught it and made a play. It made me look good.”

Lazard went up for the ball with a TCU defender all over him — so much so that the defender was called for pass interference, and Lazard was still able to come down with it.

He then shook the defender off and broke down the sidelines to the end zone.

The touchdown came at an important time, too, tying the game at 14 with about six minutes left in the first quarter.

“I liked [Lazard’s] leverage on the guy, and I just threw it up to him, and he made a play,” Lanning said. “It was kind of behind him — a back-shoulder catch — and he just got his defender off of him and ran for 70 or whatever it was.”

After the touchdown play, though, it was back to the sidelines for Lanning. Starting quarterback Sam Richardson came back in and finished the game.

When asked why Lanning only played two plays after the game, head coach Paul Rhoads had just a few words of explanation.

“That will be a part of our Sunday analysis,” he said.

But even though it was just two plays, Richardson said Lanning made a big impact in the game, and he couldn’t be happier for his understudy.

“It’s awesome, I’m so proud of him,” Richardson said. “He’s a great friend of mine, and it’s a huge step in his career. He’s going to have a great career here. Any kind of situation that he’s thrown into, he’s making plays, and he really made a big difference today.”

Lanning, a redshirt sophomore from Ankeny, Iowa, has had limited game experience so far in his career.

Last week against Texas Tech, though, Lanning played significantly. He went 5-for-9 for 41 yards and completed a 31-yard pass to D’Vario Montgomery. And while the Cyclones fell to the Red Raiders 66-31, Lanning said the game really boosted his confidence.

“Maybe it’s just because I’m getting a lot more reps in practice, or I’m starting to see things that I didn’t see before,” Lanning said. “I would just say that the game is starting to slow down. It was awesome to be out there, but I learned some stuff.”

As to whether Lanning’s performance against TCU will earn him more playing time or not, only time will tell.

But Lanning isn’t worried about it, yet. For now, he is just focused on contributing.

“It’s not my call, how many snaps I get, but it is what it is,” Lanning said. “I’m just in there for what I’m supposed to do. I executed the play, so hopefully it was good enough for them.”