GAME REWIND
Heading to their showdown with Hays during the 2002 season, the Rattlers embarked on their first season in Class 6A since 1997.
Five games in, the Rattlers had passed the test with flying colors, going 5-0 with wins over Lubbock Monterey, Austin Del Valle, Bastrop, Austin Crockett and Seguin.
However, if the Rattlers wanted to compete to win their first district title in Class 6A, San Marcos needed to get past their old Hays County rivals in the Hays Hawks who entered the game with a 3-2 overall record.
Considered to be one of the firecrest rivalry games in the area, the Battle for Hays County going into the 2002 season was a lopsided affair. The Hawks had won nine straight games against the Rattlers following San Marcos’ win during the 1988 season and led the overall series 9-1.
Of the nine Hawks wins’ seven came within one possession, all in favor of Hays who seemingly had the right mojo against San Marcos.
In fact, the game seemed like the Hawks were going to pull off another win against the favored Rattlers, jumping out to a 10-0 lead in the second quarter.
After scoring on a 70-yard touchdown in the first quarter, Hays booted a 42-yard field goal to put the Hawks up.
However late in the second quarter, San Marcos found the offensive mojo they had been searching for in the first quarter.
Quarterback Kyle Pringle completed several long passes before finding Aaron Hayslett for an eight-yard touchdown pass with 1:31 left before halftime to cut the lead down to 10-7.
Receiving the ball to start the second half, the Rattlers struck again.
Using the strength of running back Justin Romo, Romo carried the ball seven times for 61-yards before scoring a two-yard touchdown run, giving the Rattlers their first lead of the game at 14-10.
On their first possession of the second half, Hays drove the ball past the 50-yard line, looking to answer back with a touchdown drive of their own. But the Rattler defense forced the fumble and recovered the ball, giving San Marcos the momentum.
The turnover turned into six points for the Rattlers as Romo scored from 15-yards out early in the fourth quarter to extend the San Marcos lead to 20-10.
Hays once again tried to answer back now down two possessions, but the Rattlers came up with another turnover as Dillon Dabelgott made the interception.
The Hawks later got the ball back only for the Rattlers to force another fumble, recovering the ball before sealing the 20-10 win.
For San Marcos, the Rattlers came away with their first win over the rival Hawks for the first time in 1988 and snapped a nine-game losing streak against Hays.
San Marcos finished the regular season with a 8-2 record and qualified for the playoffs after placing in third behind Austin Westlake and Austin Bowie. The Rattlers season came to an end in the Bi-District round of the playoffs against San Antonio Madison. All three of San Marcos’ losses came within one possession.
cmcwilliams @sanmarcosrecord.com Twitter: @ColtonBMc
