New York Jets backup quarterback Tim Tebow entered the game in the second quarter to a mix of cheers and boos Friday night.

Jets starter Mark Sanchez led the first two drives before turning things over to Tebow, who played through the team’s opening drive of the third quarter.

The University of Florida graduate and national media lightning rod completed 4-of-8 passes for 27 yards with one interception. He also turned a few near sacks into first-down runs, finishing as the team’s leading rusher with 34 yards on four carries.

Tebow’s only glaring mistake came on his final play, when a poor pass intended for tight end Jeff Cumberland ended up in the hands of diving Bengals rookie linebacker Vontaze Burfict.

The play came on a first down with the Jets driving in Bengals territory at the 31-yard line.

Replacement referees: With the NFL Referee’s Association locked out by the league, replacement officials are being used in all preseason games.

Three of the seven officials working the Jets-Bengals – referee Jerry Frump, head linesman Bill Etzler and side judge Randal Beesley – had NFL experience from 2001 when they crossed the picket line when the Referee Association went on strike.

Beesley made news in 2001 when he worked the regular-season opener between the Raiders and Chiefs. His professionalism was questioned by Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown, who said Beesley went to shake the hand of Jerry Rice and said “It is an honor to referee a game with you.”

Of the seven working Friday night’s game, three had never officiated above the Division II college level.

The crew didn’t make any notable mistakes, something that has not been the case in other preseason games this week, including a mess up on the opening coin toss in the Hall of Fame game on Sunday.

Preseasons past: The Bengals opened their preseason with a win for the first time since 2008, when they defeated Green Bay 20-17.

The Jets had beaten the Bengals in four consecutive preseason games, including a 27-7 triumph last year. New York still leads the all-time preseason series 5-4.

Firebird pride: Lakota West football coach Larry Cox was an unbiased, proud fan Friday night as he watched two of his former players in NFL action.

New York fullback John Conner is a 2005 West graduate who is in his third season with the Jets after playing collegiately at Kentucky, while Grant Hunter is a 2006 West product who is playing linebacker for the Bengals as an undrafted college free agent out of Butler.

Conner, a starter and team captain, had one carry for 3 yards and one catch for no gain.

Hunter saw action in the fourth quarter, recording one tackle.

Injury report: Ten Bengals players were inactive for Friday’s game, including first-round draft pick Dre Kirkpatrick, the cornerback from Alabama who has yet to practice in training camp due to a knee injury.

The other Bengals inactive against the Jets were quarterback Tyler Hansen, cornerback Brandon Ghee, cornerback Jason Allen, running back Bernard Scott, cornerback Shaun Prater, guard Matt Murphy, wide receiver Ryan Whalen, defensive tackle Pat Sims and defensive end Robert Geathers.