Lions QB Jennings looks for another 300-plus yard game, Collaros debuts for Ticats

VANCOUVER — Jon Jennings is looking to become the fourth pivot in the long history of the B.C. Lions to throw in excess of 300 passing yards in four straight games.

That’s news to the 24-year-old quarterback from Columbus, Ohio, who will make only his 13th career regular-season start Saturday against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

“I’m not a big historian,” Jennings said.

He also hasn’t won a Grey Cup, which is why the Lions are being cautiously optimistic when assessing his success leading his team to an early 4-2 record. But if he hits the 300-yard mark again, joining Dave Dickenson, Casey Printers and Doug Flutie as the only Lions to accomplish that feat, it would put perspective on Jennings’ recent play and what the Lions hope to achieve by spoiling the season debut of Ticats quarterback Zach Collaros.

Jennings rebounded after two late interceptions that led to a loss to Calgary July 29 by completing 27-of-31 passes for 331 yards in a win over Montreal last week. B.C. has averaged 39.6 points in its last three games and teammates say part of the reason is because Jennings is able to leave plays in the past.

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“Jon comes into every play with a blank slate,” said veteran receiver Marco Iannuzzi. “He doesn’t remember if the last play was good or not. It’s almost like a blind confidence, maybe because he’s too young to realize.”

Jennings isn’t the least bit engaged about the prospect of being compared to three former Lions greats at an early stage of his career.

“That’s a cool stat but at the same time if I throw for 50 yards I don’t care as long as we win,” he said.

Lions offensive co-ordinator Khari Jones said he has tried to keep the offence simple for Jennings. Jones also doesn’t think success is getting into the head of his quarterbacking protege.

“He’s grounded,” said Jones, a former CFL quarterback. “If I see something I’m going to comment but I don’t see him reading headlines. The first piece of advice when I was playing in Winnipeg was from Tracy Ham. He said ‘don’t read papers and if they’re talking about you on the radio turn it off’.”

The Lions are talking up Jennings, hoping he can generate interest in a franchise that attracted just 18,921 fans to their last home game July 7, a 14-year low in the regular season.

To beat Hamilton, Jennings must prevail over the league’s best pass defence while defensively the Lions must stop Collaros, who returns to play his first game in 329 days after season-ending anterior cruciate ligament surgery last year.

Collaros is 3-0 lifetime against the Lions and the Tiger-Cats are 3-1 on the road this year.

“We’re going to have our hands full,” Lions coach/GM Wally Buono said. “But we’re not playing Zach by himself. They have a lot of weapons.”

B.C. players have studied Collaros from game tape of the 2015 season and feel the Hamilton starter will have added latitude to work outside the Ticats offensive scheme.

“You try and make life tough on him, but we’re focusing on ourselves,” said Lions linebacker Adam Bighill, noting his team wants to improve a defence that only allowed 11 yards offence in the final quarter against Montreal.

Bighill will be joined in the Lions defence by safety Mike Edem and cornerback Brandon Stewart, who return off the injured list to face their former Ticats teammates.

Jennings, meantime, will try to accomplish a feat not attained by his mentor and teammate, Lions quarterback Travis Lulay, when he goes in search of another 300-yard game.

Jennings said it wouldn’t give him bragging rights, however, recalling Lulay’s role in the Lions’ storied run to end the 2011 season, proving he knows a little history.

“(Lulay) can always say he’s won a Grey Cup,” Jennings said.

Lowell Ullrich , The Canadian Press