By Scott Nickerson
Elmore Autauga News
After a dominant season on the gridiron that saw Stanhope Elmore High running back Arthur McQueen rush for 1,971 yards and 23 touchdowns, the Mustang senior won the prestigious award of Player of the Year given out by the River Region Quarterback Club.
The totals are even more impressive when you consider that all the Mustangs’ opponents knew that SEHS was limited passing the ball and were going to focus defensively on stopping the Mustangs’ rushing attack. Despite that, McQueen still averaged a whopping 8.8 yards per carry.
SEHS Coach Hunter Adams spoke about the qualities that McQueen possesses as a quiet leader on the team.
“Art sets the tone for the younger kids. He’s a role model. He embodies the hard work and mindset that we have. He doesn’t have bad workouts. He doesn’t have bad practices. When he scores a touchdown the ball is going back to the referee. When he gets a first down, he’s not getting up and pointing. He’s giving the ball to the referee and getting back in the huddle.”
McQueen is the first Mustang to win the award for SEHS. He will go down as one of the best to do it at a school that has featured a number of great college and professional running backs.
“This is a huge honor,” said Coach Adams. “It does a really good job rewarding what he’s been for this program, for this team, and for this school. The mindset of Stanhope Elmore football has always been physicality. We’re going to hit you in the mouth and run the football. That is what this program has always been. If you look at the lineage of tremendous running backs that have come through here, like his uncle, Kunta Mims, Antowain Smith, Robert Chancey, BJ Smith, Tre Duncan, Art has the characteristics that all those guys took pride in.”
One of McQueen’s biggest moments in a Mustang uniform came in October when he set the school’s all-time single game rushing record with 420 yards in a Class 6A Region 2 game at Rehobeth. Coach Adams recalled a conversation he had with Rehobeth’s head coach during the District Coaches meeting at the end of the year.
“He told me that they spent all week focusing on one guy (McQueen). Their entire defensive game plan was around one guy, and they never stopped that one guy. The level of respect that Art gets from opposing coaches says a lot.”
McQueen is undecided about where he will continue his football career in college. He is described as a family guy that is looking for somewhere close to home that will feature his traits as a power running back. Signing day opens in February, and the EAN will update when McQueen decides on a college destination.
