The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ youth movement proved effective Friday as they beat the British Columbia Lions 33-13 in the first exhibition game for both teams of the 2008 Canadian Football League season. It was a start to a career that rookie head coach Ken Miller can live with.

“I was a little nervous to be perfectly honest with you,” Miller said. “As the game went I felt a little more comfortable. I got great advice from people around me and that made the job a lot easier.”

Rookie defensive back Denetay Heard provided an end-zone interception in the second quarter and sophomore John Chick followed with a timely sack just two plays later after a Riders turnover.

The quarterbacking foursome of Darian Durant, Steven Jyles, Teale Orban, and starter Marcus Crandell were solid - at times, spectacular - in throwing for two touchdowns and running for another. At a combined age of 72, Durant, Jyles, and Orban are just six years the elder of their head coach.

Not to be outdone, rookie receiver Adarius Bowman caught all three passes directed his way in the first half. Bowman tracked down 60 receiving yards in the half including a working man’s touchdown on a 14 yard reception from Durant.

“It moves a lot faster on game day so that kind of took me for a loop,” said an incredulous Bowman who insisted he had a lot more to give. “I was not prepared. I looked up in the stands and it was packed so I kind of fed off that a little. I made a lot of small mistakes but it’s nothing that can’t be corrected.”

While Crandell will be Saskatchewan’s starting quarterback come opening day, the guys behind him did little to resolve the debate over who should be his backup. Durant threw for 81 yards and one touchdown, including completions of 30 and 46 yards. He also picked up a 31-yard rush during the second quarter.

Jyles, acquired from the Edmonton Eskimos in February for Fred Perry, overcame two early interceptions during his 25 minutes of action with two touchdowns of his own - one on the ground and one in the air.

A 2008 draft pick of the Riders, hometown boy Teale Orban played the last five minutes of the game.

Despite the early nature of the season, it was enough to make several fans after the game wonder aloud ‘Kerry who?’ Former starter Kerry Joseph was traded to the Toronto Argonauts in the off-season.

Kerry Joseph or no Kerry Joseph, Durant insists that any pressure felt is self-imposed and is not a product of following in the footsteps of the reigning league MVP.

“A little bit (nervous), at first,” Durant said. “But once you get in the game it’s something I’ve been doing all my life. Once I got that first hit out of the way and started playing then it slowed down for me.”

As for any post-game hints about who will back up Crandell, those will have to wait for another day.

“Right now it’s Marcus in front and then we’ll just see how Darian and Steven do going forward,” Miller said. “We’ll make a decision on that as we get through the second pre-season game.”

The Lions used a quarterback combination of Jarious Jackson, Buck Pierce, Gino Guidugli, and Zac Champion during the game.

Next up for Saskatchewan is their second and final exhibition game Thursday in Edmonton against the Eskimos. The Lions will head home to face the Calgary Stampeders in their exhibition finale, also Thursday.

The Roughriders’ home opener is June 28 at home against the Eskimos while the Lions will hit the road to face the Stamps on June 26.