03 Sep 2023 501 Football Team 2023: Caleb Turner – Bigelow

After suffering a surprise first-round playoff exit last season, Bigelow is determined to regain its status as a 501 football powerhouse in 2023. 

Three-year starter Caleb Turner anchors the line for the Panthers this season and projects to be a major piece of the puzzle, defensively, as the team chases its fourth consecutive Class 1-2A conference title.

“Caleb’s best qualities on the field are his physicality, toughness, aggressiveness, intelligence and high effort,” Bigelow head coach Luke Starks said. “Despite being a three-year starter on the offensive line, we expect him to play more defense for us and to be a leader on and off the field.” 

Turner and his teammates haven’t lost a single Class 1-2A conference game throughout their senior high football careers. Continuing the 20-game streak this season won’t come without hard work.

“As a personal goal, I want to be a better leader for our offensive line,” Turner said. “As a team, we’re stronger this year with lots of power. We still have work to do, but by playing our best football as a team, I believe that we will not only win the conference, but win the Class 2A state championship, too.”

While the team aims to bring the title home to Bigelow this season, Turner and the Panthers seek to extend another winning streak by defeating cross-county rival Perryville.  

“Winning the Perry County rivalry against Perryville the past three years has been super cool,” Turner said. “It’s a tradition we plan to continue this season, too.”