The Rattlers win their first playoff game in 8 years 

By Isaac Melchor  

KTSW Sports Reporter

 SAN MARCOS, Texas–The San Marcos Rattlers (7-4) defeated the Eagle Pass Eagles (6-4) by a score of 42-10 at home in dominant fashion to secure the bi-district championship.  

 The Eagles received possession first, but with 9:55 seconds on the game clock, the senior Hank Harris intercepted the football, giving San Marcos the early chance on offense. San Marcos would use this opportunity to score at 8:59 seconds after a Justin Tardy rushing touchdown, putting the Rattlers up 7-0. 

 The Eagles on the other end go for it on 4th and 1, where middle linebacker Darius Davis got the stop for San Marcos. 

 After a 3 and out for the Rattlers, Eagle Pass moves the ball up the field when Kaden Joseph for San Marcos intercepts the ball at 2:53 seconds in the first quarter. 

 This starts San Marcos at the 28 yard line, after some completed run plays and passing to Hank Harris, the Rattlers push it all the way to the 35 when the first quarter of playoff football comes to an end. 

 San Marcos began the 2nd quarter 4th and 20 and did not convert, Eagle Pass took over at the 38 and went all the way down to the Rattlers 40, where they went for it on 4th. The San Marcos defense comes up with another big stop. 

 On the other end, at the 8:40 seconds mark, Justin Tardy rushes in for a touchdown. Rattlers up 14-0 

 When Eagle Pass receives the ball on offense, they perform an excellent flee flicker trick play that scores them the touchdown. 

 14-7 Rattlers. 

 At 7:29 seconds Buck Steyn throws an interception at the 49 yard line, and Eagle Pass    right after, gets a completed pass all the way to the 1 yard line. 

 At 1st and goal, San Marcos defense stops the Eagles 3 times, forcing Ivan Cruz to kick the field goal. 

14-10 San Marcos. 

 After the Rattlers moved the ball up the field by runs from Buck Steyn and Justin Tardy, Donavan Garcia rushed for the touchdown with 1:57 left in the half.

21-10 San Marcos. 

 When the Eagles receive the ball back, Justin Tardy picks the ball off at the 28 yard line with 1:20 on the clock. 

 After the halftime break, San Marcos moved all the way up the field in no time, with Justin Tardy scoring a touchdown after a 5 yard run. 

28-10 San Marcos  

 When the Eagles receive the ball on offense, Mason McGuire, the senior, intercepts the ball. With San Marcos back on offense, Elliot Gray makes back to back plays, with the second one giving the Rattlers another touchdown. 

 35-10 San Marcos. 

 When the Eagles go back on offense, they get all the way to the San Marcos 38 yard line where the Rattlers sack the quarterback. Jah’Marien Nichols picks up the ball, and returns it all the way for the touchdown. 

 42-10 San Marcos. 

 During the 4th quarter both teams began to put in their reserve players and neither team scored.  

 San Marcos ended the game in victory formation after a hard fought game, winning their first playoff football since 2017. Final score 42-10. 

 Head Coach John Walsh touched on the path this team has gone through recently.

“Our journey has been special, over this 3 year period and this season, its special, there’s nothing better then Rattler Stadium on a Friday night,” said Walsh.

San Marcos will move onto the 2nd round of playoffs where they will face Edinburg in Corpus Christi Texas on Saturday. 

Stay tuned with KTSW as we continue to cover Rattler Football this post season.