By Scott Nickerson
Elmore Autauga News
The Stanhope Elmore High School Mustangs earned an important win Friday night over the Park Crossing Thunderbirds in a Class 6A Region 2 match. The Mustangs led 24-0 at halftime, and won 31-12.
It was the Mustangs’ second consecutive game inside Montgomery’s Cramton Bowl. After the last second loss against Percy Julian last week, this game was never in doubt. The Mustangs led 10-0 before the Thunderbirds got their first 1st down.
The Mustangs got the ball first and drove down the field, but the drive stalled deep in Park Crossing territory, and SEHS had to settle for a field goal attempt. Ironically, it was on the same end of the field, at almost the same exact spot, in which the Mustangs’ last second field goal attempt against Percy Julian was blocked the week before. This time, kicker Colby Beyer easily made the 29-yard field goal to put the Mustangs up 3-0.
Stanhope Elmore running back Arthur McQueen had a 24-yard run on the first play of the 2nd quarter, and on the next play he scored his first touchdown of the night from 3-yards out.
A few minutes later, McQueen added his second touchdown of the night, this one from 62-yards out, to move the Mustangs ahead 17-0.
The Mustangs’ final points in the first half came on special teams, when Demarion Thomas blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown. The Mustangs held a commanding 24-0 lead at the break.
Park Crossing tried to make it interesting in the 2nd half, but they could never get within two scores. The Thunderbirds did have a 9-yard touchdown pass in the 3rd quarter, and a 62-yard touchdown pass in the 4th quarter. In between, McQueen had a 74-yard touchdown run for the Mustangs, to complete the scoring at 31-12.
McQueen continued stating his case for All-State consideration, rushing for 223 yards and 3 touchdowns on only 16 carries. In the last two weeks playing at Cramton Bowl against Percy Julian and Park Crossing, McQueen had a whopping 404 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Defensively, SEHS corner Jay Stone intercepted a pass, his third interception in four games this season.
The Mustangs record improves to 2-2 overall, and 1-1 in Class 6A Region 2. They will be off next week and return to action on September 27 at Smiths Station. The Panthers are winless this season.
