SMHS FOOTBALL
The hype going into the 2017 season for the Rattlers was palpable. After qualifying for the playoffs in the past two seasons following a seven-year drought, San Marcos was in prime position to not only qualify for their third consecutive postseason berth but contend for the Rattlers first district championship since 2003.
San Marcos rolled through district play with a 4-1 record before rattling off four straight district wins, setting up a district title showdown with the Austin Bowie Bulldogs.
Both the Rattlers and the Bulldogs entered the final game of the regular season with identical 8-1 overall records and 4-0 district records. The previous season, both Bowie and San Marcos played for the district title, ending with the Bulldogs defeating the Rattlers 59-7.
Wanting revenge for the blowout loss, San Marcos looked to return the favor to both capture the elusive district championship and defeat Bowie for the first time since the 2006 season.
Bowie struck first, scoring on a three-yard rushing touchdown to lead 7-0 over the Rattlers.
On the next possession, the Rattlers crossed midfield with a long run from quarterback Prudy Calderon. San Marcos moved inside the redzone before kicking a field to make it 7-3.
In the second quarter, Bowie extended their lead to 10-3 after kicking a 32yard field goal. The Bulldogs struck again late in the quarter following a five-yard touchdown run, but missed the extra point to make it a 16-3 game.
Though the game was looking like a repeat of the previous year’s contest, the Rattlers had other ideas.
Calderon connected with Mhyson Williams for a 43-yard pass to put the Rattlers in Bowie territory with less than two minutes remaining in the first half.
On the next play, running back Jamon Johnson broke free for a 28-yard touchdown run, scoring with less than a minute remaining before halftime as the Rattlers cut the lead down to 16-10.
With the momentum on their side, the Rattlers struck again.
Receiving the kickoff to start the second half, Johnson caught the ensuing kick inside the endzone before returning the ball 101 yards for the touchdown, giving San Marcos their first lead of the game at 17-16.
As Bowie tried to answer back on their next possession, the Rattler defense, then known as the “Killer Purple Smurfs,’” came up with one of their biggest plays of the game. On the ensuing handoff, the Bulldogs fumbled the ball before nose tackle Brandon Rangel recovered the ball, giving San Marcos the ball at the Bowie 18-yard line.
On the next play, Calderon avoided disaster by catching the high snap before breaking free for an 18-yard touchdown run, giving the Rattlers a 24-16 lead.
After the Rattlers forced a Bowie punt, San Marcos kept their foot on the gas pedal. Driving to the Bowie five-yard line, Calderon scored his second touchdown of the night on a five-yard run, extending the Rattlers lead to 31-16.
Bowie answered back with a 27-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter before later kicking a field goal in the fourth to cut into the Rattlers’ lead.
But it wasn’t enough for the Bulldogs as San Marcos came away with the 31-26 victory to secure the program’s first district championship since 2003.
Johnson led the team in rushing with 13 carries for 96 yards and a touchdown while churning up 258 allpurpose yards. Calderon rushed for 85 yards on fifteen carries and two touchdowns while passing for 61 yards.
With the district title, the Rattlers hosted their first round playoff game for the first time at Toyota Rattler Stadium. San Marcos defeated Round Rock Westwood 64-50 in a thriller that remains the highest scoring playoff game in Rattler playoff history.
