Justin Dunk
Ticats.ca
It was a game of firsts for a couple tight-knit Ticats.
Agustin Barrenechea and Ray Mariuz have spent the better part of five seasons together in Hamilton, during their matching nine-year careers in the CFL. Both broke into the league as linebackers and have spent a lot of practice and game time together.
At the beginning of the 2011 season Barrenechea moved from his linebacker position to fullback and Mariuz retired before training camp. Now, they are back together on the football field and in the Tiger-Cats dressing room — ever since Mariuz came out of retirement in late September — their lockers are located right next to each other.
During Hamilton’s 42-10 thumping of the B.C. Lions, each veteran checked off another accomplishment on their football bucket list. First up was Barrenechea who made a 38-yard reception, the first catch of his CFL career, with less than five minutes left in the third quarter.
“We got into the huddle and the play was called – I think it was only the second time we called the play in a game this year,” he said.
“We were running the ball well so we had an opportunity to influence them on the run. I was the second read on that play, the first read was the guy down low, I was the corner route and it was there. Quinton saw it and took advantage of it.”
Porter fired a strike to the big fullback and he even picked up a few yards after hauling in the pass, though Barrenechea thought it could have been a bigger gain.
“I thought maybe I should of cut it back and tried to get some more out of it, but that’s just the competitive nature in me,” he said.
Number 39 happened to go out of bounds, after making the reception, right near his teammates on the sidelines.
“When I saw Auggy make that catch I jumped off the bench and went over to him – you could see the excitement in everyone on the bench,” Mariuz said.
Perhaps Barrenechea’s first catch was some sort of foreshadowing that his close friend would have a career moment.
With just over five minutes to play in the final quarter, Mariuz picked off a fake punt pass attempt by B.C. kicker Paul McCallum and took it back for a touchdown, the first major of Mariuz’s CFL career.
”After I got up, I was still in the end zone and Auggy was already down there to meet me. He sprinted down the field so he could come celebrate with me in the end zone,” Mariuz said. “It was definitely a special moment and it was nice to share it together.”
The McMaster alum experienced his first start at linebacker since returning to football just a few short weeks ago. To go along with his interception, Mariuz made three tackles and recovered a fumble.
“Ray had an outstanding game,” Barrenechea, the former linbacker, said. “For a veteran player, playing football, it’s just like riding a bike. Ray’s a student of the game so I didn’t expect anything less from Ray.”
When Mariuz returned to the Ticats he wasn’t sure how long it would take him to get back into the football routine, but he has shown it didn’t take long to feel comfortable on the field once again.
As for how the body felt after his first start, some things about the game of football will never change.
“It was sore. I felt really good out there, surprisingly good on the field, but the next few days I was definitely sore – that’s just how football is,” Mariuz said.
Years from now the pair of nine-year vets will look back and remember how much they enjoyed sharing a couple of career firsts on the same day.
“It was real special. Auggy and I had some good laughs about the game after saying it was a good day to be young again,” Mariuz said.
“We joked and said that it was a good thing we are so young in our careers,” Barrenechea said. “Now we just extended them by a little bit.”
