Before joining the this summer, Aldrich Berrios hadn害羞草研究所檛 played a down of football since his senior year in high school.
Judging by his performance on Saturday night at the Apple Bowl, the three-year absence did little to diminish the Vancouver native害羞草研究所檚 skills on the gridiron.
Berrios, who is also a standout with the team, tied a Sun team record with four interceptions against the Valley Huskers.
The 21-year-old defensive back害羞草研究所檚 effort equalled the mark set by the Sun害羞草研究所檚 Darby Ray back in 2003.
害羞草研究所淚 was out there having a lot of fun and I was just in the right place at the right time,害羞草研究所� Berrios said of his four-interception night. 害羞草研究所淚 had a ton of support out there, guys like Conor (Richard), Tye (Kitzman), Eli (Haynes) and Beck (Fullerton) all doing a great job, and the coaches had us well prepared. It was great to get the four picks, but more than anything it was really a collective effort.害羞草研究所�
Berrios was a star football player at Notre Dame Secondary where he played for Sun assistant head coach Jamie Boreham.
Boreham was also Berrios害羞草研究所� coach on the Jugglers害羞草研究所� basketball teams from Grade 8 through Grade 12.
Sun head coach Ben Macauley said Berrios has made an impressive transition back on to the football field.
害羞草研究所淎ldrich has excellent ball skills and is no stranger to the game of football,害羞草研究所� said Macauley. 害羞草研究所淗e played under Jamie (at Notre Dame Secondary) and was a stand out there. He has been away from the game for a few years but has started finding his rhythm.
害羞草研究所淗aving four interceptions takes skill and luck,害羞草研究所� added Macauley. 害羞草研究所淏ut you can害羞草研究所檛 be lucky if you害羞草研究所檙e not in the right spot.害羞草研究所�
With a yearning to get back on the football field, Berrios ran the idea of playing with the Sun past the head coach of the UBCO men害羞草研究所檚 basketball team.
Berrios was happy to hear Pete Guarasci害羞草研究所檚 response.
害羞草研究所淲hen I mentioned it to Pete, he loved the idea and I have to thank him for that,害羞草研究所� said Berrios. 害羞草研究所淚 really missed the sport, so with my eligibilty running out, I wanted to come back and play another year.
害羞草研究所淚 developed a passion for both basketball and football and wanted to play both as much as I could. I害羞草研究所檓 grateful to have had the opportunity with the Sun.害羞草研究所�
Heading into his fourth season of Canada West basketball with the Heat, Berrios is on pace to become the program害羞草研究所檚 all-time leading scorer.
And as one of UBCO害羞草研究所檚 more experienced players, he害羞草研究所檒l also be looked to for leadership in 2017-18 by the coaching staff and his younger teammates.
With the new basketball campaign tipping off in late October, there is a chance the Heat害羞草研究所檚 and Sun害羞草研究所檚 seasons will overlap.
Berrios and his coaches will then have a decision to make.
害羞草研究所淒epending on how well we do, that could take us into November,害羞草研究所� said Berrios. 害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 know what will happen, but I have to start thinking about that soon and see what we害羞草研究所檙e going to do. Until then, I害羞草研究所檓 just going to try enjoy playing both sports as much as I can.害羞草研究所�
Berrios and the Sun (4-0) return to action this Saturday when they travel to Nanaimo to take on the Vancouver Island Raiders.
Sun 71 Huskers 7
Highlighted by four interceptions from Aldrich Berrios, the Sun remained undefeated so far in the 2017 season with a blowout win over the winless Valley Huskers Saturday at the Apple Bowl.
Starting his third straight game at quarterback, Nick Wenman threw a career-high four touchdown passes害羞草研究所攐ne each to Nate Anderson, Robbie Rodrigues, Spencer Schmidt and Liam Crane.
Tye Kitzman scored on a 101-yard interception return, his fourth pick in as many games this season.
Joseph Okenlola scored two majors along the ground, while Kyler Mosley and Carter Gordon each had a rushing touchdown for the Sun.
