Rattlers Drop Season Opener Versus Hippos

By Thomas Terry

Sports Reporter

HUTTO, Texas— The San Marcos Rattler Football Team traveled northbound into Hutto, Texas, Friday evening to face off against the Hutto Hippos.

The Rattlers, who are coming off of a 5-7 2022 season, surrendered 66 points to a Hutto offense that features 4-star quarterback and Texas Tech Football commit, Will Hammond, and wide receiver prospect, Alex Green, who holds several Division 1 football offers.

There were no first-game jitters for Will Hammond as he put together an electrifying night, passing for 410 yards with a 78% completion rate (18/23). Hammond added 100 yards on the ground in only 7 rushing attempts which amounts to an astonishing 14.2 yards per carry (YPC). Hammond was also responsible for seven of the Hippo’s nine touchdowns; six of which came through the air while the other was on the ground.

Though Hammond might’ve had the game-high for YPC, the team’s leading rusher in terms of rushing yards was sophomore Keilan Chavies. Chavies finished the night with 133 yards on 11 carries (12.1 YPC); his night was highlighted by a ground-shaking 70-yard run that resulted in one of his two touchdowns of the game.

Seven different receivers caught at least one reception in the game for Hutto with senior Alex Green leading the way in terms of total receiving yards. Green capped off his night with 5 receptions for 201 yards and 3 touchdowns. The other 100-yard receiver for Hutto would be senior Carson LaPlante, who had 4 catches for 126 yards and 1 touchdown. Low reception totals paired with high receiving yards tell the tale of big plays. Green and LaPlante respectively averaged a whopping  40.2 and 31.5 yards per reception (Yds/Rec). They each also had longs of 67 and 50 yards respectively.

Although the Rattlers were unable to come out victorious Friday night, the team fought to the last whistle and never gave up. Senior quarterback Kutter Gage Webb had a serviceable evening with 232 yards on 14 pass attempts, passing for three touchdowns while only tossing 1 interception. Senior running back Stefan Stennett tallied a game-high 177 yards on 21 carries, also scoring a touchdown in the process. Senior wide receiver Tony Diaz went to work against the Hippo secondary racking up 204 receiving yards on 7 catches while also securing a touchdown.

The season is still young and the Rattlers will have an opportunity to get back in the win column next Friday night (Sept. 1) against the Madison Mavericks. Madison narrowly defeated Clemens at home last Friday night so they will do everything they can to keep the Rattlers winless.