By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

GERVAIS,Ore.– As Gervais prepares for Colton this Friday, it is also Senior Night for the Cougars.

As they dodge a few raindrops from the clouds above, a few of the seniors share their thoughts on their journey to this week and what the colors of Gervais means to them.

Calen Bichsel, a part of the Cougar stout offensive and defensive line this season, talked about how this day felt like it came all way too soon.

“First off it means family, I’ve grown up in this community for my entire life,” “I’ve been here all 18 years.  For me it’s family, it’s pride, it’s just a giant family to me and I love it.  I wouldn’t trade this for anything else.

“I’m kind of upset cause it’s my last time ever playing on this field.  I’ve always liked it out here because it’s a nice, peaceful area.  Great people, the emotions during the games, all the players; everything out here.  All the support we get from out community, I’m going miss it, I’m going to miss all of it.  It’s really going to be hard for me to get past.”

For Peter McKinley, who made the move to Running Back this year to go with playing linebacker, he has the same sediments as Bichsel as he remembers the one time Derrick Jaramillo’s older brother, Adam, gave him a concussion his freshman year.

“It came a lot faster than I thought,” he said.  “It felt like it was yesterday, I was out here getting a concussion from Derrick’s older brother as a freshman and now it’s our last home game.

“I mean, I don’t know how to describe it.  It came too fast.”

The younger Jaramillo, Derrick, knows that he cannot see himself in any other uniform besides the one he’s been in the past few years.

Despite if they’re 0-9 or 2-5, Jaramillo has a strong sense of pride with the colors of the Cougars.

“I wouldn’t want to wear another Blue or Gold, this place is home,” said Jaramillo. “It always been home.”

Moss, though he’s been in the Gervais uniform and at the school for a short period of time, admits its been the best time of football for him.  But he knows nothing will be better than to finish his senior year with two more wins.

“Just finish with two more wins, make the season the best we can,” said Moss.  “It’s been the best team I’ve been with and my best football year,”

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