Marty Domres, the Baltimore Colts quarterback tasked with replacing an aging John Unitas on the field, died Oct. 13 after a long illness. The Reisterstown resident was 78.

A first-round draft pick of the San Diego Chargers in 1969, Domres was dealt to the Colts in 1972. Expected to understudy Unitas, then 39, Domres became a starter in midseason during a shake-up of the 1-4 team by new owner Robert Irsay. Buoyed by the Columbia University grad, who was booed mercilessly by Unitas’ fans, the Colts split their next six games before the last home contest against the Buffalo Bills — and the final game for Unitas at Memorial Stadium, though the odds of his playing that day were slim.

“That game was the highlight of my career,” Domres told The Baltimore Sun in 2009. He passed for three touchdo

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