Rattlers Defense Comes Up Big In 17-14 Win

By Adam Byerly
Sports Reporter

The San Marcos Rattlers played their final home game of the season versus the Manor Mustangs. San Marcos coming into this game 4-3 on the season with a 2-0 district record. Manor came in struggling with a 1-6 record and 0-2 in district play.

First touchdown came by Manor with 6:07 left after they drove down the field after their defense forced a San Marcos punt. Next possession was a turnover on downs for the Rattlers after they missed a field goal. The Rattler defense would force another stop and that would be the end of the first quarter.

Rattlers moved the ball again into Mustang territory but had another turnover on downs after another missed field goal. Rattlers continued having trouble getting in sync on offense before the Rattlers defense got an interception and Tyler Moreno and offense were able to take advantage with a touchdown before half and the score at half ended up being a 7-7 tie.

In the third quarter the Rattlers finally got a field goal to get a 10-7 lead. But later in the third Manor got a touchdown on a big play to take the lead 14-10. And with a minute left in the third the Rattlers defense recovered a fumble to the Mustang 6-yard line. And Moreno kept the ball and ran it in for a touchdown. Rattlers went up 17-14.

After a failed field goal attempt by Manor, the Rattlers were moving the ball and on 4th down with 1-yard to go Jamon Johnson fumbled the ball. Manor had a big run play to the 25-yard line but then threw a pick to the Rattler secondary as that defense came up big again. Manor came up with a big stop to give their offense a chance, but after they moved the ball to the San Marcos 14-yard line they came up just short of converting on a 4th and 1 and the Rattlers came out with the 17-14 win.