Player of the Year-gan: Quarterback wins offensive POTY after taking huge step for Maplesville in 2024

Published 11:32 am Friday, January 3, 2025

By Carey Reeder

By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

There was no one in the county that took a bigger step from 2023 to 2024 than Maplesville High School’s junior quarterback Pearce Yeargan. If there was a most improved player award in Chilton County he would be front runner, but Yeargan will win the 2024 The Clanton Advertiser Offensive Player of the Year after engineering a state championship appearance for the Red Devils. He waited patiently for his turn to take over the offense, and when his time came, he has made the most of it.

“I just think it was his time,” Maplesville head coach Brad Abbott said. “Pearce has been one of our quarterbacks since seventh grade and has been in the system, and he is always wanting to study, work and willing to put the work in to be a student of the game. When his time came, he just rolled with it and had a great year.”

Yeargan took a step forward in all facets of his game with leaps in his passing attack and bounds with his legs. He was not known as a dual-threat quarterback prior to this season, and he may not be truly described as one now. But what he does have is incredible pocket presence and the ability to use his legs in an improvised way when things break down that keeps drives alive and the offense on the field. His 78 carries for 378 yards and 11 touchdowns were larger in the moment than on the stat sheet, coming at opportunistic times during Maplesville’s season.

Yeargan posted a 151-for-270 passing effort in 2024 for 1,598 yards and 23 touchdowns, and was fearless and accurate with his arm. If a playing style or attribute was assigned to Yeargan, ‘Gunslinger’ would be a great one to use. His aggressiveness may get him in trouble sometimes with interceptions, but he has the ability to have a short memory and come back firing again.

“He understands that is part of it, and when you are a quarterback that has always been tabbed that guy who is going to be the quarterback, you learn to have that short-term memory,” Abbott said. “He tries to stay positive, takes ownership and does not blame anyone and he is looking to make up for it on the next play. When he throws an interception, afterwards when he has the opportunity to run, his runs are a little more violent and takes it out on the defenders for the mistake he made before.”

Maplesville was ahead of schedule this year in some eyes getting to the Class 1A State Championship Game. Next season, they return virtually their entire roster aside from three starters and six seniors overall, and will be led by a senior quarterback with unfinished business after a taste of the big stage.

“He has an even keel about him, but he does not mind playing with a little emotion, a fist pump or getting the crowd fired up. He is definitely special in that regard,” Abbott said.

 

Honorable mention: Grayson McManus, Thorsby High School

Thorsby High School’s Grayson McManus has been the model of consistency for years in multiple roles for the Rebels. His stellar high school career came to an end after the transition year for Thorsby in 2024 moving to Class 3A. The senior’s play helped smoothen that switch while extending the Rebels playoff streak to eight consecutive seasons.

McManus started as a 9th grader for Thorsby at head outside linebacker, and since then has moved around to many positions on both sides of the ball, but found a home as the Rebels quarterback.

“He is just a tough kid, played hard and being a hard-nosed runner doing whatever it took to be successful and being an example for the younger guys,” Thorsby head coach Daryl Davis said. “We hate to see him go because of all those reasons.”

The word toughness comes to mind when you think about the type of player McManus was during his career, and specifically this season. He took huge hits all season, but got back up each time. McManus has played through injuries like a broken foot in the past, and in his four years on the varsity team, he never missed a game.

“With all the nagging injuries that you have happen, he always manned up and played through it,” Davis said. “That is important for your teammates to see you are putting the team first.”

McManus was 54-for-106 passing for 896 yards and eight touchdowns through the air, but did a lot of his damage on the ground. Whether it was a designed quarterback run or an improv, McManus scampered around in Class 3A just like he did in Class 2A. He ran for 1,198 yards and 15 touchdowns, giving him totals of over 2,000 yards at 2,094 and 23 touchdowns in 2024.

Davis added that he hopes McManus gets the opportunity to play at the college level, and hopefully locally, if that is the route the senior chooses to take after graduation.

 

2024 All-Advertiser Team, Offense

Quarterback: JR Pearce Yeargan, Maplesville — 151-for-270 passing, 1,598 yards, 23 touchdowns and 78 rushes, 378 yards, 11 TDs

Quarterback: SR Grayson McManus, Thorsby — 54-for-106 passing, 896 yards, eight touchdowns and 1,198 rushing yards, 15 TDs

Running Back: SR Kelijah Lucas, Chilton County

Running Back: SO Jediah Works, Isabella — 1,400 rushing yards

Running Back: SR Jacob Morris, Verbena — 116 rushes, 728 yards, 14 TDs and four catches, 181 yards, two touchdowns

Wide Receiver: JR Aidan Abbott, Maplesville — 40 catches, 537 yards, five touchdowns

Tight End: SO Jackson Brothers, Verbena — 8 catches, 158 yards, three touchdowns

Athlete: SR AJ Ford, Jemison

Athlete: FR Nehemiah McCary, Maplesville — 179 rushes, 1,092 yards, 14 touchdowns

Athlete: JR Hayden Wilson, Verbena — 52-for-74 passing, 751 yards, nine touchdowns and 53 rushes, 262 yards, two touchdowns

Offensive Line: JR John Green, Thorsby

Offensive Line: SR Colten Conway, Isabella

Offensive Line: JR Trace Payne, Maplesville

Offensive Line: JR Landon Brown Verbena

Offensive Line: JR Luke Stoneback, Chilton County

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