Lulay gets the start

Photo: Twitter - BC Lions

Travis Lulay did not expect to come back from a knee injury this way.

The veteran B.C. quarterback will start his first game since Sept. 3 today as the Lions (7-10) host the Stampeders (13-4) in the CFL regular-season finale for both teams before they meet again in the West Division semifinal Nov. 15 in Calgary.

Lulay, whose return was once viewed as critical to the team's success, is getting the nod as coach Jeff Tedford rests promising rookie Jonathon Jennings in advance of the more important playoff tilt.

But even with his future uncertain, Lulay is excited about the chance.

"I look at this as a really great opportunity to tune up and be ready if called upon in the playoffs," Lulay said Friday after the Lions' walk-through at B.C. Place Stadium.

Lulay, chosen the CFL's most outstanding player in 2011 when the Lions won the Grey Cup, has not played since coming off the six-game injured list Sept. 29. Initially, Lulay served as a backup because he was still not fully healthy, and Tedford kept him there after Jennings thrived.

But Lulay, who missed most of 2014 with a shoulder injury and is slated to become a free agent in February, refused to dwell on his reduced status.

"The focus (was) to get healthy, to get back," said Lulay. "Once that happened, yeah, the role changed a little bit. But it doesn't change my approach. It doesn't change anything about my commitment to helping this football team win."

Jennings, a 23-year-old Columbus, Ohio native who played collegiately at Saginaw Valley State in Michigan, started the season as B.C.'s No. 3 signal-caller. But he was elevated to No. 1 after Lulay was hurt in Montreal and backup John Beck suffered a damaged pectoral muscle in Calgary on Sept. 18.

Lulay will try to help the Lions, who have won two straight games, carry some momentum into the post-season.

"This game doesn't mean anything in the standings in terms of the playoffs coming up," said Lulay. "What it can do is give us an extra boost going into the playoffs."

In another notable move, Lions kicker Anthony Fera will make his CFL debut after spending the season on the practice roster.

"It means a lot that the coaches put their trust in me to go out there," said Fera. "I've been working my butt off all season for this moment, so I'm just trying to stay relaxed and go out and do my thing."

Fera will stand in for struggling fellow rookie Richie Leone, who leads the league in punting with a 49.5-yard average but has gone 30-for-39 on field-goal attempts and 27-for-38 on converts.

"(Leone's) got a lot of potential, a lot of ability," said Tedford. "But it felt like it was good to get him to take a step back this week, work on things in practice and evaluate (Fera) to see what he can do."

Tedford and Calgary coach John Hufnagel are making several lineup changes in a bid to keep key players healthy and avoid revealing any post-season strategies. Calgary starting quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell will also get a rest as veteran backup Drew Tate makes his first start of the season.

Meanwhile, B.C. running back Andrew Harris and Stampeders counterpart Jerome Messam will battle for the CFL rushing crown. Harris, who is looking for his inaugural league rushing title, ranks first with 997-yards — but holds only a 50-yard advantage over Messam, who joined the Stampeders from Saskatchewan at the trading deadline.

"To be close to it and to be able to achieve it right now is something special — and something I want to get done," said Harris.