VANCOUVER – After doing the math, quarterback Mike Reilly hopes he became part of the answer.
Reilly came off the bench to throw two late touchdowns as the B.C. Lions pounded the Saskatchewan Roughriders 34-6 in a CFL exhibition game Wednesday night.
With four quarterbacks battling for three jobs, Reilly knew he needed to make Wally Buono, the Lions coach and general manager, notice him in B.C.’s final exhibition game.
“I felt this was a really important game,” said the 26-year-old from Kennewick, Wash. “We have a lot of good quarterbacks here.
“I knew it was going to be a big night to go out, take every opportunity I could to show why I should be part of the team and that I could be an asset. That’s what I wanted to do, go out and show I could help bring home a Grey Cup.”
Playing limited minutes late in the fourth quarter, Reilly completed all of his eight pass attempts for 108 yards. He threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Nick Moore, then just 68 seconds later connected with Tim Brown on a four-yard scoring play.
Buono liked the passing. What really impressed him was when the six-foot-three, 230-pound Reilly took off on a 17-yard scramble.
“He can take off and run the football,” said Buono. “In this league, when a quarterback has that ability and can run hard, we are pleased by it.”
Travis Lulay, the man who will be the Lions starting quarterback when the season begins next week, liked what Reilly showed.
“He knew what was on the line,” said Lulay, who completed 11 of 20 passes for 104 yards in the first half.
“He didn’t do anything special or spectacular. He managed the offence very well. He scrambled for a first down, put the ball where it needed to go. He did a good job.”
Reilly had tried out with four NFL clubs in the past two years. He signed with the Lions last July _ passing on a chance to audition with the New York Jets _ because he felt he had a chance to stay long-term with B.C.
He got limited reps with the Lions, and mostly ran the scout team during practice, but felt the time invested paid dividends this training camp.
“Just being here and watching the games last year, being part of the scouting process, it helped me get comfortable with the offence,” Reilly said.
“There is nothing like getting out on the field and actually running the plays themselves.”
If he sticks with the Lions, Reilly will likely be the third-string quarterback behind Jarious Jackson.
Reilly’s late heroics added some fireworks to a dull game.
Prior to that, the most exciting play was defensive back Korey Banks returning an interception 65 yards for a touchdown.
Lulay looked poised during his time on the field, showing patience while looking for receivers. He also demonstrated his running skills in the second quarter, squirming out of the pocket to romp 13 yards.
“I felt comfortable,” said Lulay. “It was a pretty good reflection of how camp has been.
“We have been sharp throughout camp, continued to improve. We just wanted to put a cap on it tonight.”
The Rider offence struggled.
Quarterback Darian Durant played almost three quarters. He completed 19 of 29 passes for 178 yards, plus threw the interception.
He also was the victim of several dropped passes. Wide receivers Ernie Wheelwright and Terrence Nunn both let balls slip through their fingers they should have caught.
Lions kicker Paul McCallum hit on field goals of 47, 41 and 23 yards. He also had a 47-yard single on a missed field goal.
Rookie Hugh O’Neill, who the Lions drafted from the University of Alberta, kicked a 50-yard field goal.
Eddie Johnson kicked a 16-yard field goal for Saskatchewan. McCallum conceded a safety.
Jackson and newcomer Corey Leonard also had turns at quarterback for B.C.
Jackson went three-for-five for 29 yards. Leonard completed one of seven passes for 18 yards and was intercepted.
Cole Bergquist, a second-year player from Montana, and Chris Leak, a free agent who signed with the Riders after two years in Montreal, took over for Durant.
Leak completed three of eight passes for 52 yards. He hit Wheelwright with a 46-yard pass in the fourth quarter. Bergquist was good on three of seven passes for 20 yards.
The game was played on a cool, breezy night before a crowd of 18,742 at Exhibition Stadium. The temporary venue will be the Lions home before they move to the refurbished B.C. Place Stadium in the fall.
The Lions whipped the Calgary Stampeders 24-0 in their first exhibition game. The Riders beat the Edmonton Eskimos 23-22.
While pleased with the two exhibition wins, Buono said they won’t mean anything when the season starts next week.
“I’m a big believer pre-season can fool you,” he said. “You have to look at the things that are relevant.
“The offensive line has been very good. We have a good quarterback that makes good decisions. Defensively we played good, sound football. When you look at it, we should have a better football team this year.”
Notes: The Lions open the regular season next Thursday on the road against the Montreal Alouettes. …B.C.’s first home game is July 8 against Calgary. …The last time the teams met the Riders defeated the Lions 41-38 in overtime during the West semifinal at Regina.
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