Rattlers lose on homecoming night

By Thomas Terry

Sports Reporter

SAN MARCOS, Texas — The San Marcos Rattler Football Team succumbed to the Laredo Alexander Bulldogs 31-24 in a home bout this past Friday night.

The Rattlers are off to a sluggish start this season after falling to the Bulldogs Friday night. This was the first game of the season for head coach John Walsh after his beginning-of-season suspension.

The Rattlers have generally performed well in the first quarter of games thus far this season. That standard held true Friday night as the game stood at 3-3 at the end of the first quarter. The second quarter featured much of the same concept as both teams scored one touchdown each. Something that the Rattlers struggled with early on in the season was senseless penalties such as numerous false starts and holding infractions; this was not the case Friday night as the Rattlers were penalized only twice in the first half.

There was an onslaught of offense from both squads in the second half and the Rattlers did not go down easy. However, a turnover-on-downs by the Rattlers offense allowed the Bulldogs to methodically drive down the field while chewing the clock to score a go-ahead touchdown along with a 2-point conversion to go up by seven points. An interception thrown by K.G. Webb on the last drive sealed the Rattlers fate.

After surrendering a colossal 629 yards rushing in the game prior to this one, the Rattlers still managed to give up 237 yards on the ground versus the Bulldogs. The main point-of-attack for the Bulldogs offense was senior running back Gael Rodriguez. Rodriguez toted the ball 29 times for 200 yards and two touchdowns for an immense 6.9 YPC.

Alexander quarterbacks, Javi Jiminez and Jeremy Gabrillo managed their way to 131 and 62 passing yards respectively. They both were responsible for a passing touchdown while Jiminez was the lone Bulldog to toss an interception.

Senior wide receiver Josè Vasquez caught seven passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns.

Although the Rattlers were unable to notch their first win of the season Friday night, the team has shown flashes and progressively improved. Rattler quarterback K.G. Webb  completed 13 passes on 24 pass attempts for 218 yards while also tossing one interception as previously aforementioned. Senior Stefan Stennet gained a pedestrian 69 yards. Prior to wide receiver Tony Diaz being ejected, the senior went to work and put on his usual star-studded performance racking up 156 yards through the air while catching both of Webb’s touchdown passes. Diaz also returned a punt for a touchdown in the second half.

The Rattlers will look to shift the tide this Friday September 22 in Eagle Pass, Texas versus the 3-1 Eagles. The Rattlers will hope to stop the run and continue to play disciplined football to keep the penalties down to a minimum.