By Jeremy Mcdonald

Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

GERVAIS, Ore.–  It’s been a steady development for Gervais junior Eremay Avgi at the Quarterback position.  

Having played the position since eighth-grade, learning from then-senior Rey Marrufo his freshman year during the Covid Shortened season in 2021 before taking the reins his sophomore year last year for the Cougars at the Quarterback position.  Learning about zone’s and defenses on top of technique has the soon-to-be third-year Varsity player ready to roll for this upcoming season for the Gervais program.

For Avgi, from the get-go when he got to the High School-level, he wanted to be the best that he could be as he’s slowly piecing it all together through the last two seasons.

“Starting my freshman year, it was a huge challenge because I was a little guy playing with these 16, 17 year olds.  And competing with a senior quarterback, I wanted to be the best that I can.  Just having that competition around and developing into what (Marrufo) was and trying to beat that, I think it really helped me out,” Avgi said.

Last year for the Cougs was a growing year.  Of their 23 athletes, all but eight were underclassmen.  But what was growing pains in their nine-game slate, would hopefully pay dividends this Fall as they look to snap a nine-game drought going into this year,

“We had such a young group, it was a really big awakening of ‘hey.  This is what High School Football really is’,” described Avgi.  “This year we have a lot better opportunity, especially going down to nine-man, the competition is different and is new to everybody.  And now that our squad knows what it feels like to play that young against older people, and we’re now around that age, now we know what it’s like and now we can be that much more ahead than other teams.”

Now going into his third-year of Varsity, knowing what it takes to be that leader to help lead Gervais into this new endeavour of playing nine-man football when the season kicks off September 3 at Lowell

“I always look at myself as a natural leader and just to have that role now I think is now a big stepping stone,” Avgi said.

The adjustment going to nine-man is unique with 2A opting to go for it starting this season.  The adjustment has been, well, challenging, fun and something different; overall though is something that Avgi and his squad have been stepping into with open minds.

“I think we’re making that adjustment pretty well.  We got guys out here and everyone’s picking up pretty quickly.  They’re athletic, they’re getting that down pretty quickly so I think the adjustment has been good,” Avgi said.

Kickoff for their game against the Red Devils is at 6pm September 3.  Gervais’ home opener will be September 8 against Clatskaine before opening league play September 16 at Regis.

Photos By Jeremy McDonald