Rattlers Fall to Buffaloes on Homecoming Night

By: Keilani De Luna

SAN MARCOS, Texas –Homecoming night at Rattler Stadium featured the Rattlers squaring off against the Schertz Clemens Buffaloes in their first district game of the season. The Buffaloes claimed their first district win over the Rattlers with a final score of 35-8.

In their last matchup during the 2023-2024 season, the Buffaloes edged out the Rattlers 48-41. The previous season, 2022-2023, had seen the Rattlers secure a victory over Clemens with a score of 28-24.

The Rattlers managed to score only in the first half. A snapped ball flew over the punter’s head, leading to a disastrous play for San Marcos. Following the special teams error, Clemens scored easily on an 18-yard touchdown pass into the end zone. That would prove to be the only points the Buffaloes would score in the first half, a momentous victory for San Marcos for the time being.

After halftime, the Buffaloes returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown after an impressive 80-yard run and successfully converted a two-point attempt. The Buffaloes extended their lead to 22-8 in the third quarter after the Rattlers were forced to punt, allowing Clemens to take over at the Rattler 44-yard line.

On fourth down, the Rattlers could not hold their ground, enabling the Buffaloes to score again. The game concluded with a 68-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown by Clemens.

When asked about the difference between the first and second halves, Coach Walsh remarked, “I think we were coming off the ball better, and I’m afraid that kick return took the momentum from us. We just didn’t come off the ball like we did in the first half.”

Discussing areas for improvement, Walsh added, “We got to get healthy. We lost two good ones, Donovan and Mason. We got to regroup and figure out how we are going to move the ball.”

The Rattlers will travel to San Antonio to face the East Central Hornets, who hold a 4-1 record this season, on Friday, October 11, at 7:30 PM.