It all went according to plan.

At least that’s what Birmingham Iron coach Tim Lewis implied after former Washington quarterback Keith Price replaced starter Luis Perez late in the first quarter after the Perez threw his fourth interception of the season, which Orlando turned into a pick-6.

Price gave Birmingham (3-2) a dose or offensive consistency – and a more mobile option at the position – to a team averaging less than 20 points in its first four contests but was unable to complete a late rally in today’s 31-14 loss to the undefeated Orlando Apollos.

“During the course of the week, in practice, we had given a number of reps with the first group,” Lewis said. “So it was not a shock at all to anybody on our team. We had contemplated during the course of the week that this might be something we go to if, and when, you start off the first three series of the game the way we did. Something needs to happen.”

The Iron gained only 14 yards on its first three drives, which ended with Perez throwing the pick-6 to Orlando’s Keith Reaser to put the Apollos up 14-0 at the end of the first quarter. Price made his season debut on Birmingham’s next drive, completing his first three passes, and led the Iron on a 7-play, 72-yard drive near the end of the first half to cut the Orlando lead to 17-8 on a 3-yard run from Trent Richardson.

“I prepared for it but first, I got to thank God, I’m not even supposed to be here and he just has so much favor over us,” Price said. “I was just ready for the opportunity, but obviously what I did wasn’t good enough to get a win.

“They were sitting back in some zone coverages, a couple of times they ran man on us. I could get out and use my feet a bit to improvise, and when the pocket seemed to break down a little bit I was able to hit guys. The offensive line did a good job protecting me, and I was just trying to make plays for the team.”

Price finished 18-of-29 passing for 234 yards and a 30-yard touchdown pass to running back Brandon Ross in the third quarter to cut the Apollo lead to six points. Ross’ catch and run was the first passing touchdown of the season for the Iron.

Although Lewis said that Price was given more first-team reps this week in practice, the young quarterback was still surprised his number was called so early in the game.

“Just be ready,” he said. “I wasn’t expecting this, I’m not even expecting to be here being interviewed. I’m just so blessed. But we’ll be rolling next week. It’s a loss, it’s going to sting, but we got San Diego next week.”

Perez came into the game against Orlando with a 56 percent completion rate with 797 yards but three interceptions in the last two games against Atlanta and San Antonio. Despite the benching, Perez was supportive of his teammate to which Price was thankful.

“He’s a great dude, Luis is a great dude,” Price said. “He can spin it and is one of the better quarterbacks in this league. We’ve all been through it when things just aren’t going your way, but he’ll get back on track and out there doing his thing.”

Price may have given the offensive spark that Birmingham needs to compete on more complete level – despite playing with a defense allowing only 12.8 ppg – but Lewis said the position will be evaluated continuously going forward.

“I think we’ll just keep looking at what we’re doing, but Luis is not out of the picture by any stretch of the imagination,” Lewis said. “It’s obviously going to be situational and we’ll have to evaluate all the time. We’ll continue to work the way we’re working but with an added emphasis on who moves it, gets to stay in. I’m all about that, I’m all bout when you have your opportunity, if the things rolls and moves, you get to stay at the helm. And I’m OK with that.”

As to who would start next week to start a two-game road trip, Lewis was mum.

“We’ll see,” he said. “We’ll go through a week of practice and see how it rolls. I can’t make any promises right now.”