501 Football Team named

Twenty-four players from throughout Central Arkansas have been named to this year’s edition of the 501 Football Team, which is sponsored by Conway Regional Health System and First Security Bank.

The 501 LIFE staff is proud to present the members of the 2020 edition of the 501 Football Team. 

This year’s honorees mark the 10th edition of the 501 Football Team. Sponsors for this year’s team are Conway Regional Health System and First Security Bank.

“Among all the uncertainty this summer about whether or not we would even have a high school football season this fall, we felt it was really important to still have a 501 Football Team regardless,” said Levi Gilbert, 501 LIFE associate editor. “It’s so important to have some sense of normalcy right now, and continuing the 501 Football Team felt like the right thing to do no matter how the season may or may not play out.” 

The team features 24 student-athletes — the best the 501 has to offer both on and off the field. Every county in the 501 is represented.

“Of the 24 student-athletes on the team, all but one are seniors,” Gilbert said. “This season especially, we are honored to be able to celebrate seniors in this way.”

2020 team members include: Braxton Allen (Malvern), Chase Blanton (Clinton), Bryce Bohanon (Conway), Garrett Brown (Benton), Jaxson Carter (Poyen), Xavier Credit (Mayflower), Tyler Gee (Cabot), Palmer Gilbrech (Central Arkansas Christian), Austin Haynes (Quitman), Brock Hohenstein (Searcy), Brayden Jones (Bigelow), Blake Kennedy (Perryville), Darren McClinton (England), Jackson Moll (Morrilton), Houston Motes (Maumelle), Steven Roberson (Bismarck), Gannon Roberts (Beebe), Will Ross (Hot Springs Lakeside), Caden Sipe (Harding Academy), Robert Taylor (Conway Christian), Luke Trubiano (Vilonia), Layne Warrick (Lake Hamilton), Ashton White (Greenbrier) and Jack Wurz (Fountain Lake).

Players were nominated by their respective coaches and selected by the 501 LIFE staff. Nominations were weighted equally between on- and off-the-field attributes.

“On behalf of Conway Regional Health System, I would like to congratulate the athletes and their parents honored in this publication,” said Conway Regional President and CEO Matt Troup. “Their relentless pursuit of excellence in the classroom and in athletics shows their character in the same way that Conway Regional pursues excellence in healthcare.”

Troup added, “Our support of the 501 Football Team is reflected in the close relationship that Conway Regional and our medical staff have with community athletics. Conway Regional athletic trainers are onsite and at sports events in Conway, Greenbrier, Vilonia, Conway Christian, Perryville and Marshall. Physicians on our medical staff also provide football game coverage at Conway High School (Tom Roberts, MD, Orthopedist, and David Naylor, Primary Care), Greenbrier High School (Jay Howell, MD, Orthopedist), Vilonia High School (Grant Bennett, MD, Orthopedist) and Conway Christian (Thad Hardin, MD, Primary Care). Physicians on the Conway Regional Medical Staff also direct our Comprehensive Sports Outreach Program which provides concussion baseline testing and EKGs onsite at most football games. In the past, Conway Regional has donated thousands of cases of bottled water for high school fundraisers throughout north central Arkansas.”

“First Security Bank is honored to support the 501 Football Team and recognize these outstanding athletes for their talent and hard work,” said First Security Bank Senior Vice President of Marketing Margaret Smith.

The team met at Conway Christian School’s field for a photo shoot. In addition to being recognized in this year’s edition of 501 Football 2020, each player will be featured individually throughout the fall online at 501lifemag.com and in 501 Sports Extra, 501’s sports e-newsletter. (To sign up, visit 501lifemag.com or email [email protected].)