Courtesy Vancouver Province:

Kindly hold all parimutuel tickets: The Lions’ starting quarterback sweepstakes appears as if it will require a photo finish.

It looked like neither Buck Pierce or Jarious Jackson deserved the job in their first preseason game a week ago, but when they lined up for the feature race Thursday, they remained neck-and-neck at the finish line.

Jackson threw short well, Pierce threw deep well.

Both threw touchdown passes to Geroy Simon and Paris Jackson.

And the longer both remained proficient, the playing time for third-stringer Zac Champion almost dried up completely.

It really is that close.

B.C. beat the Calgary Stampeders 39-35 before 26,242 at B.C. Place Stadium, and the manner in which both starting contenders understood the basics of coverages offered up by the visitors may require coach Wally Buono to flip a coin again to decide his starter.

“I think everyone was concerned about us last week, but we showed we are coming together,” said Pierce, who had 184 yards by halftime.

On a night when the Lions may be forced to troll the free agent market this weekend as a result of a potentially troubling hamstring injury suffered by linebacker Jamall Johnson, just about everyone fighting for a job played well enough to force Buono’s hand.

The quarterbacks led the way.

“I just wanted to come out and be the general on the field, period, regardless of Buck’s play,” said Jackson, who completed eight of 11 passes for 126 yards.

So what does Buono do?

“We have confidence with both [Pierce and Jackson] no matter what happens,” said Simon.

First up will likely be to go in search of another linebacker if Johnson’s injury is threatening.

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