SMHS GAME REWIND
Game rewind takes a look at some of the most historic, famous and most memorable games in the history of Rattler Athletics. This week will take a look at San Marcos’ historic win over Smithson Valley in the 2006 playoffs.
In the 2006 season, San Marcos qualified for the playoffs and faced off with the Smithson Valley Rangers in the Bi-District round.
While on the outside, a showdown between two of the best teams in the area is a tantalizing matchup, the inside story runs much deeper.
During the Rattlers resurgence of the late 1990s and early 2000s, San Marcos found themselves in frequent matchups with Smithson Valley, usually in the playoffs or with district title/playoff implications.
However, the Rangers seemingly had the Rattlers number.
In their first meeting in 1998, the Rangers defeated San Marcos to keep the Rattlers out of the playoffs despite their 7-3 record. During the 1999 season, Smithson Valley again defeated San Marcos, this time keeping the Rattlers from sharing the district crown.
In the 2000 season, which is considered to be one of the best seasons in recent memory, San Marcos won the district championship and advanced to Area before Smithson Valley ended their season. The same result happened during the 2001 season with the Rangers once again playing foil to the Rattlers in Area.
San Marcos and Smithson Valley met again during the 2004 and 2005 playoffs in the Bi-District round only for the Rangers to come out on top once again.
Now back in the playoffs for the 2006 season and having to beat Smithson Valley in their own stadium, the Rattlers were once again faced with trying to topple their longtime nemesis despite their 0-6 record.
The Rattlers were undeterred by past losses and determined to flip the narrative against Smithson Valley, including senior defensive back and captain Evan Brooks.
“Eventually it has to happen, so why can’t it be this year,” Brooks said. “I know we have a shot as long as we believe and give it our best. That’s all we have to do.”
The Rangers scored first only for the Rattlers to tie the game at 7-7 following a 27-yard touchdown run from Matt Urrutia. Smithson Valley took the lead going into the second quarter following a three-yard touchdown run.
San Marcos tied the game up once more following Urrutia’s three touchdown run only for Smithson Valley to answer back with a touchdown score of their own. With less than two minutes remaining before halftime, running back Kevin Stiles scored from one-yard out, tying the game at 21-21.
Smithson Valley retook the lead in the third quarter on a four-yard touchdown as the Rangers entered the fourth quarter up 28-21.
The Rattlers continued to battle and eventually tied the game up once again as Aaron Canady broke free on a 37-yard touchdown run, tying the game at 28-28.
With less than two minutes remaining, San Marcos took their first lead of the game as Stiles scored his second touchdown of the game from five yards out, giving the Rattlers a 35-28 advantage.
But the drama was not over yet. On their next possession, Smithson Valley drove down the field and scored with 34 seconds remaining in the game, making it a 35-34 game.
Opting not to kick the extra point and tie the game, the Rangers decided to go for the two-point conversion and win the game to once again break the hearts of the Rattlers. Only this time, San Marcos flipped the script.
The pass attempt on the two point conversion was tipped by Urrutia, falling incomplete. The Rattlers then recovered the onside kick before running out the clock and celebrating their long awaited 3534 win over the Rangers in front of the stunned home crowd in Smithson Valley.
San Marcos then advanced all the way to the Regional finals for the first time since 1999 where the Rattlers fell to San Antonio MacArthur in a thrilling game.
cmcwilliams @sanmarcosrecord.com Twitter: @ColtonBMc
