ALL-RIVER REGION SPORTS 6A-7A: Stanhope's McQueen, Pike Road's Shook take top honors

Arthur McQueen, seen here in a game against Percy Julian, was named the River Region Class 6A-7A Player of the Year by the coaches after rushing for 23 touchdowns in the 2024 season. Pike Road’s Granger Shook was named 6A-7A Region Coach of the Year. (Tim Gayle)

By GRAHAM DUNN

There were times during the season when Stanhope Elmore coach Hunter Adams was concerned that he was using his star running back too much.

“I told him we needed him more than I wanted to need him,” Adams said. “In one game, I said, ‘you may have to tote it 30 times tonight.’

“He said, ‘Coach, I want to tote it 50 times.’”

Arthur McQueen was a workhorse for the Mustangs, providing a spark for an offense that need it from time to time. He usually obliged to the tune of 23 rushing touchdowns, including five in one game to set the Class 6A record for the year.

The coaches in the River Region chose the senior running back as the River Region Sports Player of the Year for 2024.

For the second-straight season, Pike Road’s Granger Shook was named Coach of the Year by his peers after leading the Patriots to a second-consecutive semifinal finish in the Class 6A playoffs.

McQueen, a two-time member of the All-River Region team, rushed 230 times for 1,971 yards, which led 6A and 7A football this season. He would have rushed for more had a late-season injury slowed his success while playing a role in eliminating the Mustangs from playoff contention.

He started eight games and played in nine after suffering a fracture in his foot before the rivalry game against Wetumpka.

“He would have finished with 2,000 yards had he not gotten hurt,” Adams said. “That fracture may have kept us out of the playoffs.”

Coaches in the region all agreed he was one of the toughest runners they faced all year.

“He was tough to bring down,” Percy Julian coach Kenneth White said. “You knew they were going to give him the ball and he kept going after it.”

McQueen may have saved his best for last when he rushed for 421 yards on just 19 carries, scoring five times in one half of play against Rehobeth.

“They loaded the box and keyed on him but he had one of those nights where he was in a groove,” Adams said. “And it was all I could do to keep him out of the game in the second half. He wanted to go back out there.”

In all his success, McQueen proved to be the quiet type and didn’t lead much with big speeches.

“He’s not going to give a ‘rah-rah’ speech before a game,” Adams said. “But when he has the ball in his hands, he’s said a lot.

“He carries himself with a quiet confidence. He doesn’t get rattled. If you ask him to do it, no questions, he will do it.”

McQueen’s abilities come from good stock. His uncle, Kunta Mims, was a star running back for the Mustangs in the mid-1990s, earning All-State honors his senior year.

“He’s got the ability to be a special player at the next level,” Adams said. “He’s got a few schools that are very interested in him and he has one or two he is interested in more than the others.”

Shook and the Patriots got off to a slow start, losing the first two games of the year but a string of seven wins in eight games to close out the regular season proved to be the difference. The win over Russell County in the final game of 6A, Region 2 play clinched the title. It also seemed to be the lift they needed and led to the road of winning three straight in the playoffs before bowing to Saraland in the semifinals.

“I told them that we were building something special and continue on their foundation,” Shook said. “We wanted to get to the Super 7 but I know our players played hard. The seniors had been through a lot of changes in leadership and handled it with class.”

2024 6A-7A All-River Region Team

Player of the Year — RB Arthur McQueen, Sr., Stanhope Elmore

Coach of the Year -- Granger Shook, Pike Road

OFFENSE

WR — KJ Blue, 5-9, 172, Sr., Prattville

WR — TK Norman, 6-2, 175, Sr., Carver

WR — Martez Wright, 6-0, 170, Sr., Wetumpka

TE — Mason Hussey, 5-10, 185, Sr., Pike Road

QB — TJ Russell, 6-1, 185, Sr., Carver

RB — Ja’Michael Jones, 6-0, 205, Jr., Pike Road

RB — Jimmy King, 6-0, 210, Sr., Wetumpka

RB — Arthur McQueen, 5-11, 215, Sr., Stanhope Elmore

OL — Terrione Bell, 6-2, 300, Sr., Pike Road

OL — Macin James, 6-2, 320, Jr., Stanhope Elmore

OL — Christopher Johnson, 6-3, 270, Sr., Julian

OL — LaRodney McQueen, 6-4, 270, Jr., Carver

OL — Zion Stevens, 6-3, 300, Sr., Pike Road

PK — Paxton Genola, 6-0, 165, Jr., Prattville

Ath — Jordan Holmes, 5-10, 175, Jr., Pike Road

RS — Ty’Anthony Elmore, 6-2, 185, Sr., JAG

DEFENSE

DL — Ethan Bailey, 6-4, 235, Sr., Wetumpka

DL — Donjavion Brown, 6-2, 240, Sr., Carver

DL — Keshun Marbury, 6-1, 235, Sr., Julian

DL — Elijah Peake, 6-2, 295, Jr., Wetumpka

LB — KamRan Anderson, 6-2, 230, Sr., Stanhope Elmore

LB — Sam Cook, 5-10, 201, Sr., Prattville

LB — Braylon Outlaw, 6-1, 210, Jr., Pike Road

LB — Kelby Walker, 6-2, 190, Sr., Wetumpka

DB — Joidaden Carter-Stone, 5-9, 165, Jr., Stanhope Elmore

DB — Brendarion Hooks, 6-2, 180, Sr., Julian

DB — Camare Jackson, 5-9, 145, So., Carver

DB — Jabarrion Tyes, 5-11, 185, Sr., Julian

P — Colby Beyer, 6-1, 165, Sr., Stanhope Elmore

Ath — Justin Godwin, 6-0, 180, Sr., Wetumpka

Honorable Mention — Stephon Andrews, LB, Sr., Carver; Antwan Barnes, RB, Sr., Julian; Damarrian Barnes, RB, So., Stanhope Elmore; Dezmond Barnes, DL, Sr., Stanhope Elmore; Tre Berry, RB, Sr., Carver; Akeem Blackmon, LB, Sr., Pike Road; Tristan Blackmon, RB, Jr., Prattville; Rufus Boone, LB, Jr., Pike Road; Donovan Caldwell, RB, Sr., JAG; TremayneChapman, OL, Sr., Carver; Zion Crumpton, WR, Jr., Carver; Johnnie Darby, WR, Sr., Julian; Morion Dorsey, DB, Sr.,Wetumpka; Xavier Foxhall, OL, Sr., Stanhope Elmore; Logan Gaare, LB, Sr., Wetumpka; Connor Hall, PK, So., Pike Road;Jayden Hamilton, DL, Jr., Park Crossing; Desmond Harbour, OL, Sr., Pike Road; Jamaris Harris, DL, Jr., Carver; JaydenHill, WR, Sr., Julian; Lexton Hollenquest, OL, Sr., Wetumpka; Elias Holtzclaw, WR, So., Pike Road; Jayden Jenkins, OL,Sr., Park Crossing; Miking Johnson, LB, Sr., JAG; Levi Kelly, WR, Jr., Pike Road; Julius Lane, DB, Sr., Pike Road; Noah Maye, LB, Carver; Bryson McGrew, QB, Sr., Julian; Corey McMeans, DB, Sr., Carver; Niking Patterson, WR, Sr., Carver; Kendarius Reynolds, DB, Jr., Carver; Anthony Rogers, Ath, Sr., Carver; Gavan Rogers, DL, Sr., Pike Road; Carter Ruffin, DL, Sr., Park Crossing; Aiden Scott, Ath, Sr., Julian; Jacorey Smith, LB, Jr., Park Crossing; Marcus Smith, QB, Sr., Park Crossing; Omari Smith, WR, Jr., Pike Road; Elijah Tarver, LB, Julian; Corey Tims, DL, Sr., Pike Road; Andrew Voyles, P, Jr., Wetumpka; Rashad Walker, DL, Sr., Carver; Eric Watson, LB, Sr., JAG; Joshua Whiting, LB, Sr., Julian; Kieth Williams, OL, Sr., Park Crossing

Tim Gayle contributed to this report