By Randy Stevens

Waco — Mistakes and the inability to run the football proved to fatal for the San Marcos Rattlers in the team’s season opener at Waco-University Friday night.

San Marcos, a team that has traditionally benefits from a strong ground attack, was limited to only 78 yards against a big and quick University defensive line. And while the Rattler defense was able to come through with some impact plays, it was San Marcos’ propensity to surrender the big play which doomed the Snakes.

“We had some opportunities and we gave them some opportunities and they capitalized on all of them,” SMHS head coach Steve Van Nest said. “We just learned that we have the potential to make big plays defensively, but we also gave up some big ones. So obviously, we have got to clean that up.” 

University quarterback Randy Price rushed for three touchdowns and 124 yards, as SMHS struggled to contain the elusive senior the entire game. Price also completed six passes for 78 yards.

“They had a talented team with a lot of players back and it really showed,” Van Nest said.

The Rattler defense produced San Marcos’ first points of the season when Bob Eric Rodriguez picked off Price five plays into the game and returned it 36 yards for the score.

But the celebration was quickly silenced on the extra-point attempt, as the kick was blocked and recovered by Davionte Dobbins, who returned the ball to the opposite end zone, scoring two points for University. Still, the Rattlers held a 6-2 lead with 10:13 left in the first quarter.

The Trojans grabbed the lead about four minutes later when Gerrell Griffin plunged in for a one-yard score. The play was set up by an 18-yard completion from Price to Alton Montgomery.

However, the point-after sailed wide left, leaving the Trojans with an 8-6 lead.

University had a chance to up the lead later in the quarter but Ricardo Cesarez’ 34-yard field-goal attempt was off the mark.

The Trojans increased their lead to 15-6 less than five minutes left before halftime when Price trotted in on a 26-yard play-action keeper that completely fooled the Rattler defense. Cesarez added the extra point.

San Marcos’ offense waited until the final seconds of the half to post its first score.

Facing third-and-1 with 17 seconds on the clock, SMHS senior quarterback Ryan Schweers launched a perfectly aimed and timed pass to Tyler Walker, who made a great catch despite tight coverage from a University defender. Walker pulled in the ball as he rolled into the left corner of the end zone, invigorating the SMHS sideline.

Aaron Nunez added the extra point and San Marcos trailed 15-13 at the half.

But San Marcos was unable to build on that halftime momentum, as University came through with a pair of touchdowns in a very short span in the opening minutes of the third quarter, thanks to a pair of SMHS turnovers.

Schweers was intercepted by University’s Demon Williams, who returned the ball to the Rattlers’ 17-yard line. Three snaps later, Griffin scored his second touchdown on a 4-yard run that upped the Trojans’ lead to 22-13 with 10:25 left in the quarter.

Two plays later, disaster reared its ugly head again, as fumbled snap was scooped up by University’s Manny Dowling, who then ran in for a 15-yard touchdown. That gave University a 28-13 lead.

“We came out in the second half and we had a good plan. But we have two early turnovers and they up their lead and we could never catch up,” Van Nest said. “We can’t turn the ball over. That obviously out us in a hole that we couldn’t climb out of.”

SMHS pulled within striking distance when Schweers connected with Hunter Burttschell for a 12-yard touchdown with 7:55 remaining in the game, timming the lead to 28-20, but Price answered with touchdown runs of 14 and 31 yards to quell the threat.

For the first time in more than 12 seasons, the Rattlers had more passing yards than rushing. Schweers completed 9-of-21 with an interception for 91 yards. Wlaker was the leading receiver with four catches for 62 yards.

Van Nest said the Rattlers decided to start going to the air more after watching University’s defensive front handle a young and inexperienced SMHS offensive line.

“It’s a learning process where we are learing what we do and don’t do well,” Van Nest said. “We knew they had a big physical line and we had a young inexperienced line, so we felt like we had to spread it out and that this was a good opportunity to do it.”

Defensively, the Rattlers Jeremy Gonzalez was the standout for the Rattlers, coming through with sack, a fumble recovery while leading the team in tackles.

For now, Van Nest said the team will have to use the loss as a learning experience as the team prepares for Friday’s game at Bastrop.

“We’re trying to win all these games, but pre-district games are learning experiences and we’re going to learn a lot from this one,” Van Nest said.

Kickoff Friday is at 7:30 p.m.

For stats of Friday's game, pick up the Sunday print edition of the San Marcos Daily Record.