Aurora Huskies start season with new turf

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by Ed Littler

Story Created: Aug 16, 2012 at 5:28 PM CDT

Story Updated: Aug 16, 2012 at 7:05 PM CDT

When high school football season starts a week from Friday night, two of the state's most successful programs will take on each other. The Aurora Huskies play their first game on their new surface against a very familiar foe, the McCook Bison.

The Aurora Huskies ended last season with their 8-3 mark and a narrow loss to the Crete Cardinals in a thrilling state playoff game. They'll begin the new season a week from Friday on their brand new turf. It's a state of the art carpet installed last month on which they're anxious to play a game.

"Oh, it's nice, it allows for easier cutting, it's pretty cool looking, too. It gets a little hot, though but I like it," said linebacker/receiver Alex Hunt.

"Just blessed here in Aurora to put this project together and we love the turf. I mean its great traction, it's soft and really sharp," said Coach Randy Huebert.

Coach Huebert points out all of the money raised was through private donations and no taxpayer money was needed for this project.

So what kind of team will the Huskies put on this turf starting next Friday night against the always tough McCook Bison? Well, we've all heard the saying..tradition never graduates and that is true of this program looking for its 9th consecutive playoff bid including those 2008 and 09 state championships.

They'll have 13 starters back for the various spots on offense and defense like the Aurora Huskies. The McCook Bison who like the Huskies will have a new quarterback to start the first game, are almost always a playoff contending team. They were 10-1 last season, suffered their only loss in the playoff quarterfinals and have 18 starters back, many of whom play on both units.

They defeated the Huskies in overtime last season. Coach Huebert expects the same type of game.

"I expect the same, Yeah, McCook is a traditional powerhouse and we've got a lot of respect for them, it's always an exciting game and we look forward to playing games like that," said Huebert.

College coaches will again keep their eyes on the Huskies. A number of ex Huskies are playing college ball this season.

Great tradition, Andrew Rodriguez, Garrett Johns, Tyson Broekemeier, the list goes on, talk about the tradition of great players.

"Oh we always have good tradition here in Aurora, I don't know, coaches just know what they're doing, we just listen to them and do what they say," said Blake Williams.

Ah yes, developing players, all of the winning programs do that. With that in mind, it's hard to imagine there will be a better game on opening night that McCook at Aurora a week from Friday.

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