09 Nov 2011 A season to remember – Bigelow’s Lonnie Curtis

by Mark Oliver

Senior cornerback Lonnie Curtis has been down this road before. He remembers beating the Magnet Cove Panthers and watching his Bigelow Panthers claim the 5-2A conference title — the team’s second in three years.

He also remembers his Panthers having home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, but being ousted by the Bearden Bears in the quarterfinals, 21-14. Although it was the farthest a Bigelow team has ever advanced in the playoffs, Curtis and the Panthers wanted more.

That was last season. This season, things are a little different. The Panthers finished 7-2-1 overall (6-1 in 5-2A) in 2011. It was Magnet Cove who claimed the 5-2A conference championship from Bigelow with a 40-22 victory on Oct. 14, and now, the team’s focus is turned to the 2A state playoffs once again. Despite not achieving its goal of a second consecutive conference championship, however, Curtis assures that Bigelow hasn’t lost its stride.

“We are ready and we know that we can do big things this year,” Curtis says. “This team has a chance to do something Bigelow has never done before — win it all.”

The 2A playoffs are always a tough road, and things will be no different this Friday night as the Panthers play host to the Mount Ida Lions in Round One.

“They’re pretty good for being a fourth seed,” Curtis says. “We can’t underestimate them. They’re very big and very physical. They’ll make us play four full quarters to beat them.”  

And it just so happens that, if both Bigelow and Bearden win Friday night, the Panthers and Bears will face off in the second round of the playoffs.

“They will be a tough wall that we’ll have to get past,” Curtis says. We understand that they’re a good team, we know what to expect from them now and we think we can beat them as easily as anyone else.”

Panthers coach Jeff Starks has been impressed with Curtis’ sportsmanship during his time at Bigelow.

“Lonnie never misses practice,” Starks says. “He’s always working to make his team and teammates better. His work ethic is unmatched on the field and he’s always there to lift up his teammates.”

Nominated by his coach, Curtis is one of the 17 players named to the first 501 Football Team. Members were selected based on their play and contributions off the field.

Not only does he excel on the field, but Lonnie excels in the classroom as well. At school, he’s a member of Future Business Leaders of America, BETA Club, Spanish Club, Art Club, Gifted and Talented, and student council. In his free time, Lonnie also enjoys running track — he was the 2A state champion in the mile run in 2010 and the 2A state runner-up in the same event in 2011. He even sings for his youth band at Bigelow Baptist Church.

Lonnie’s biggest inspirations on the field are his coaches and a former Panther, Caleb Carter. “They have all helped me a lot and taught me many things. I’m very thankful for them. I wouldn’t be where I am today without these people.”

Although he is currently unsure of his future after graduation, one thing Lonnie will always remember from his time playing football for the Panthers is the community that has been there for him from the start.

“It is always such a blast just to get out on the field and play football in front of your community on Friday night,” Curtis says. “Football is very big in Bigelow. These people have given so much for us and it’s great for us to be able to give back to them.”