My way or the highway

Some weeks are easier than others. There are certain weeks of the sports calendar where my biggest travel concern is finding the Giltner spur. 
Then there’s the chaos I willingly let myself into last week, covering over 500 miles in two days for the love of the game.
I’ll never complain about how much windshield time it takes to have a front row seat with any of our area teams. As a matter of fact, I’ve had to be talked out of more road trips than vice versa. 
Last week’s excursion began Thursday with a couple Aurora softball games in Norris as part of the B-7 district tournament.
The Lady Huskies won its opening game over Adams Central, but couldn’t find a way to pull off a magical upset over the host Titans, who eventually punched its ticket to state the following day.
It’s always difficult watching a season come to a close -- those players and coaches pour everything they’ve got for months on end into an end goal most of them come up short with. 
Aurora’s softball team was so much better than its 13-13 record would indicate. The Huskies came within minutes -- literally -- of knocking off Class B No. 1 Northwest during the Central Conference tournament and its depth throughout the lineup, one through nine, was much closer than it has been in year’s past. 
Maybe I’m over blowing this, but it sure doesn’t feel like it. Junior Josie Fink worked 126 innings as pitcher this year for Aurora, appearing in all but one game and throwing 2,225 pitches. 
That’s insane! I need shoulder surgery just typing that. 
After a quick nap, it was back on the road Friday morning, this time nearly three hours north to catch the undefeated Hampton Hawks challenge the defending champion Stuart Broncos on the gridiron. It wasn’t Hampton’s day, though, as Stuart proved to be a favorite to repeat after a 53-20 win.
It’s been such a special season so far for Hampton and despite one loss, their goals are still all out in front of them, even if coach Jereme Jones has to run a few plays as the scout team QB. Coach knows I can come off the bench for one or two plays. 
In its Final Flight season, coach Jones and the Hawks want to host a playoff game, win in the playoffs and make it to Kearney. One loss in October doesn’t end those hopes. 
It will be a much shorter road trip Friday night to see Hampton’s final regular season home game with so many former Hawks back in town.
Lucky for me, there was just enough time to hustle back down Highway 281 and enter Husky Stadium with Scott Phillips announcing the opening kickoff over the loudspeaker. 
The Huskies are starting to look like the real deal. Winning the physicality game up front and posting back-to-back shutouts for the first time since 2002 is impressive beyond belief.
Think of all the great Husky teams of the last 20 years. Back-to-back champs in 2008-09. Runner-up in 2015. Champs in 2018. Runner-up again from 2020-22. None of those teams defensively did what this 2025 group has done for the last nine quarters of football. 
Aurora has two really big games to finish out the regular season and how they play out can completely change A-Town’s Halloween plans. Milford plays tough and Central City comes here with momentum and a special rivalry feel. 
There’s still plenty of highway to cover. 
RICHARD RHODEN can be reached at sports@hamilton.net.