By Chad Klassen

Lions’ quarterbacks have work to do after first preseason game

Jun 8, 2017 | 6:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — The B.C. Lions have some decisions to make and will cut down the roster in the coming days following the 23-18 preseason loss in Calgary.

But one group that won’t likely be touched is the quarterbacks.

While Jonathan Jennings is a lock as the team’s starter, with Travis Lulay backing him up, there is an intriguing battle for the No. 3 job between fourth-year CFL player Keith Price and rookie Alex Ross. 

For his part, Price, B.C.’s third-string quarterback last season, struggled against the Stampeders at times, being sacked and fumbling in the end zone and throwing an interception as well. 

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“Missed a couple reads,” he said. “Just need to get the ball out of my hand quicker. Took a couple sacks that I shouldn’t have took. It was average.”

Price, the former star at the University of Washington, was back to work on Thursday, knowing he’s been closely chased by Ross, who also had an up and down performance on Tuesday night. 

“Initially, I felt like I started out kind of slow, just getting a feel for the game, and then as we got into the fourth quarter, I felt like the offense started picking it up and I started getting into a good rhythm.”

Head coach Wally Buono says there is lots for both quarterbacks to improve upon, but overall he liked Ross’ game. 

“When you look at what both of them did, obviously Ross, in the latter part of the game, put some drives together, put the ball in the end zone, and that’s got to be something they have to be happy with, especially for a guy that’s been here for a short period of time,” notes Buono.

Ross played in first CFL game on Tuesday night, engineering a touchdown drive and falling short on a last-minute drive that could’ve put the Lions in a position to win the game.

Travis Lulay, who saw the field for a couple series in Calgary, says he’s impressed with Ross’ progress. 

“Alex, he’s obviously making up ground quickly. You can tell,” says Lulay. “He’s the type of guy who’s not going to make the same mistake over and over again. He’ll make a mistake, and maybe he’ll make it a second time, then he’s generally gotten better about cutting some of those things out. I think both guys have the potential to be good quarterbacks in this league. Just takes a little bit of time.”