Edmonton Eskimos' Ricky Ray, left, throws a pass while being pressured by B.C. Lions' Brent Johnson during first-half preseason CFL action in Vancouver, B.C., on Tuesday June 23, 2009.DARRYL DYCK
Rookie quarterback Travis Lulay came up one yard short of throwing his second touchdown of the night against the Edmonton Eskimos in a CFL exhibition game Tuesday night, but took a large step toward securing himself a spot on the B.C. Lions roster.
Lulay hit Paris Jackson with a pass on the last play of the game. The big Lions' slotback battled for the end zone but was tackled on the one-yard line by Therrian Fontenot to give the Eskimos a 31-19 victory.
It was the second exhibition game where Lulay came off the bench to manufacture some late points and give the Lions a chance for the win.
He threw one touchdown pass in the fourth quarter of last week's 37-30 loss to the Calgary Stampeders. On the final play of that game Lulay tossed a pass into the end zone that just went through the receiver's fingers.
"I just try to take advantage of any opportunity I get and I've just been trying to get better every day," said Lulay, 25, who played his college football at Montana State. "Game experience is invaluable.
"It was a good chance to learn and improve and I just tried to make the most of it."
Lulay game into Tuesday night's game with the Lions training 24-12. His first pass was a 51-yard bomb to receiver Rufus Skillern.
He then threw a 33-yard touchdown to Emmanuel Arceneaux that made the score 24-19.
"Going down the field on the first play, and me being able to hit him, definitely puts a little confidence in me and allows me to keep going," said Lulay. "I'm fortunate to get any opportunity and I just try to make the most of it any chance I get."
Lulay ended the night completing eight of 10 passes for 140 yards, the touchdown and one interception.
The six-foot-two, 216-pound native of Salem, Ore., came into camp battling second-year player Zac Champion for the third-string spot.
Wally Buono, the Lions coach and general manager, wasn't about to tip his hand if Lulay had earned himself a spot on the team.
"I don't want to say he earned a job tonight," said Buono, who has a history of finding quarterback talent. "He's been doing a good job from the very first day of rookie camp.
"Everybody saw the potential. We're very happy to have four good quarterbacks under contract."
Buono said he decided to insert Lulay into the game instead of Champion to make sure last week's performance wasn't a fluke.
"Zac was here all last year," said Buono. "You want to make sure what you are seeing is for real."
Tristan Jackson helped the Eskimos improve their pre-season record to 2-0 by returning a missed field goal 113 yards for a touchdown.
Eskimo quarterback Ricky Ray threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Nowacki and Arlee Whitlock scored off a five-yard run in the last minute.
The B.C. offence showed some flashes but had trouble converting before a crowd of 23,217 at BC Place Stadium.
The Lions didn't score a touchdown until late in the third quarter when Martell Mallet, who is in a battle for the running back spot, hauled in a two-yard touchdown pass from Jarious Jackson.
Buck Pierce played the first half for B.C, completing 16-of-24 passes for 170 yards but was intercepted twice, both off tipped balls. The Lions dropped to 0-2 in the exhibition.
Lulay, who set a Montana State record with 10,724 career passing yards, came to the Lions after stints in the NFL with Seattle and New Orleans.
His biggest adjustment to the Canadian game is working with one less down.
"The game management is a lot different," said the big red head. "You are starting second-and-long every time (compared to U.S. football). You have to get completions and you've got to get in a rhythm or you're not moving the chains."
Pierce said Lulay has been impressive.
"He's learned well," said Pierce. "He's been very good about receiving instructions.
"He was wanting to learn and has improved every day. That's hard for a rookie to do because there's a lot of information thrown at you, especially a quarterback."
Notes: The Lions have 66 players left in camp. ...B.C. opens the regular season next Friday in Regina against the Roughriders. ...Buono needs just five wins to pass Don Matthews in all-time CFL victories.