SMHS FOOTBALL
PFLUGERVILLE - Rattlers quarterback Buck Steyn threw a pair of touchdowns but was intercepted three times en route to a 25-15 loss to the Pflugerville Weiss Wolves on a rare Thursday game at the Pflugerville Pfield.
Though Head Coach John Walsh wanted to see more from his offense, he was proud of the defense for holding an explosive Weiss offense down after averaging 50.1 points per game last season.
“The very first thing I want to talk about is that [Weiss’] offense is extremely talented,” Walsh said. “We held them to 18 points. We just kept putting them back on the field. So our defense is playing championship football early. … So as the head coach, I feel really good about that. “Offensively, we’ve got to run the freaking ball. Then we’re trying to throw the ball, we got a throw and catch. I almost want to apologize to our receivers and running backs because the rest of the unit just didn’t get it done.”
Steyn’s touchdowns went to Jah’Marien Nichols and Hank Harris, the latter of which cut the San Marcos deficit to seven points with 4:56 remaining.
Harris then intercepted Wolves quarterback Jaxon Schad deep in the Weiss red zone, but a promising five-play drive that crossed midfield fizzled when Jorian Guinn intercepted Steyn’s next pass.
The interception led to a final field goal that put the game out of reach.
Schad threw three interceptions of his own, also balancing them with a pair of touchdown passes. Wolves running back Jayon Alexander carried 23 times for 110 yards, much of which came as Weiss tried to run the clock in the fourth quarter.
Wolves receiver Jordan Anderson scored on a lateral from Trason Armstrong on a hook-and-lateral play to open the scoring.
Steyn finished 16-of-30 for 166 yards, and running back Donovan Garcia led all Rattlers with 49 yards on 12 carries.
The Rattlers will look to regroup next week as San Marcos goes back on the road to face off with the San Antonio Wagner Thunderbirds. The Thunderbirds are coming of a 49-19 win over the New Braunfels Long Creek Dragon and will face Dripping Springs on Friday before the time of press.
“They’re one of those in that triple option [teams], four yards in the cloud of dust,” Walsh said. “We have to make sure we don’t let them get a first down. They’re going to try to be third and short, convert and run the clock. The odd thing is we are playing great run defense, so we got to keep it up.”
Kickoff for San Marcos-San Antonio Wagner is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sep. 12 at D.W. Rutledge Stadium in Converse.
Kaden Joseph comes up with the interception for the Rattlers on the first drive of the game. Daily Record photo by Colton McWilliams
Jah’Marien Nichols dives for the endzone for the touchdown. Daily Record photo by Colton McWilliams
