AUBURN – Tonight is the last time Jon Demers and nearly two dozen other Edward Little players will pull their white and crimson jerseys over their shoulder pads, and the speedy senior tailback promises he’ll let the moment soak in.

Demers admits it will be a bittersweet night for him, though it would be a lot more on the sweet side if he and his long-time teammates can beat Twin-Cities rival Lewiston for the first time in their varsity football careers.

“I’m definitely trying to take it in with all of these last practices, with the last game coming up, last time getting dressed, last time taking off the pads,” Demers said.

“Me, Troy (Barnies), Travis Barnies, Chris Ringer, Matt Betsch, there’s, like, seven or eight of us that were all on the same team for five or six years,” he added. “We’ve all been playing together for awhile, and we’re pumped for (tonight). We know it’s going to be our last game together.”

He learned the hard way not to take such passages in his athletic career for granted. That career was stunted a bit by knee problems that forced him to miss half of his sophomore and junior seasons. His senior season was also in question until he began to work with a physical therapist.

“In the early summer, we didn’t think I was going to be ready, but then we got a good brace, we got a good workout plan, and I was ready,” he said. “Knock on wood, it’s held up.”

It’s more than held up, it’s helped him become one of the top rushers in the PTC with over 800 yards.

Demers points to a number of factors for his success besides his health. Like it does for most seniors, the game has slowed down for him this year. Despite questions about his health, he felt comfortable from the first game, as his 176-yard performance against Cony showed. He chalks that up to a more positive atmosphere.

“The team’s outlook has just been completely different this year. We’ve all been a lot more positive,” he said.

He also was physically and mentally prepared to take on a heavy load whenever the team wanted to emphasize the run, as it did when Demers put up 274 yards on 37 carries against Oxford Hills.

Yet, his accomplishments have been largely overlooked because of the long shadow cast across the river by Lewiston star back Jared Turcotte.

EL coach Darren Hartley said he thinks Demers may be a step faster than Turcotte. He’s also been impressed by his strength, hands, blocking and dedication in the weight room and classroom. Tonight’s game will be a chance for him to showcase many of those talents and share some of the spotlight on the highly-touted Lewiston back.

“Jon has a chance to step up and be recognized, too,” Hartley said. “I don’t think Jon would be offended by me saying this – to be the second-best back in Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford counties isn’t bad. The No. 2 guy in this area is my 6-foot, 197-pound kid who I’m really proud to have had a chance to coach.”

Hartley said he’s noticed a change in Demers this week, a change that shows the senior will be fully in the moment.

“We’ve talked about Jon being a little bit more subdued this year. A year ago, he was a very emotional player on the field, sometimes so emotional that he got himself in trouble with his emotions,” Hartley said. “This year, he’s been very quiet. He’s been a good team player, but I don’t think he’s been as emotional as he needs to be. But he’s a different guy this week.”

Demers has an easy explanation for that.

“This is our Super Bowl,” he said.