By Scott Nickerson
Elmore/Autauga News
Photos by Scott Nickerson and Amanda Pevey – EAN. Some photos courtesy of MMS
A week after rushing for 220 yards and two touchdowns against Wetumpka, Stanhope Elmore junior running back Arthur McQueen put up another almost identical performance against Sidney Lanier, again rushing for 220 yards but scoring three touchdowns. Despite the big performance from McQueen, the Mustangs fell to the Poets 32-24 in a Class 6A Region 2 contest.
Also Friday night, participants of a recent cheerleading clinic were honored before the game and helped cheer for the Mustangs. Mr. and Ms. Millbrook Middle School Trevon Spencer Jr and Zoe Autrey were recognized as well as Mr. and Ms. Millbrook Junior High School Kuraji Crosby and Sam Floyd.
Also, like last week’s game, the Mustangs found themselves trailing by one score late in the 4th quarter, and the defense needing one stop to get the ball back to their offense for an attempt to tie the game. But like the prior week, the Mustangs weren’t able to get the crucial stop, and the Poets held on for the win.
After a scoreless 1st quarter, McQueen put the first points on the board with a 5-yard touchdown rush. The Poets’ offense, which went three and out on both of their two 1st quarter drives, suddenly exploded, scoring on a 56-yard touchdown to tie the game.
With the game tied at 7, the Mustangs fumbled the ball inside their own 20, and the Poets recovered. On their next offensive play, the Poets scored on an 18-yard touchdown pass.
The Mustangs put together a long drive that took more than six minutes off the clock, getting inside the Poets’ 5-yard line, but they were unable to put the ball in the end zone, and had to settle for a 21-yard field goal from Colby Beyer to cut the Lanier lead to 14-10 with four minutes remaining in the first half.
That was enough time for the Poets to answer before the end of the half. A 42-yard pass play was followed up with an 8-yard touchdown pass, but the extra point was blocked, and the Mustangs went into the half trailing 20-10.
Lanier got the ball first in the 2nd half and drove deep into Mustangs’ territory but was unable to score. The Mustangs answered with quarterback Jacob Bryant completing a 52-yard pass, and McQueen scoring from 4 yards out.
The Poets again drove deep into Stanhope Elmore territory but faced a 4th and 5 from the Mustangs’ 15-yard line. This time, the Poets were able to convert, scoring on a 15-yard touchdown pass. The two-point attempt was unsuccessful, and the lead was 26-17.
Again, the Mustangs’ offense answered with an impressive scoring drive. Bryant completed a 3rd down pass to McQueen to keep the drive alive, and McQueen scored a few plays later for his third touchdown on the night, to cut the lead to 26-24.
On the Poets’ next drive, they advanced into the Stanhope Elmore 5-yard line with less than 6 minutes remaining in the game. For the second drive in a row, the Poets scored on 4th down. However, the Mustangs stopped the Poets’ 2-point conversion attempt, and the lead remained a one score game at 32-24.
The Mustangs got the ball and moved into the Poets’ territory but faced a 4th and 8 and decided to punt the ball since they had three timeouts remaining. With one minute remaining in the game, the Poets faced a 4th and 5. For the third time in the 2nd half, the Poets converted a backbreaking 4th down, to seal the 32-24 win for Lanier.
In the last three games against Prattville, Wetumpka and Lanier, McQueen has rushed for an amazing 574 yards and 6 touchdowns. The impressive statistics have caught the eye of at least one big name college, with perhaps more to come as McQueen continues his impressive junior season.
The Mustangs fell to 2-5, and will travel to Pike Road next week before finishing the regular season with two home games against Park Crossing and Minor.
