Rattlers fall to East Central in Hornets second half comeback during on-field fight

SMHS FOOTBALL

Tensions were obviously high, so no one was terribly surprised when it finally happened. Once the fight started, there was little anyone could do to stop it.

The San Marcos Rattlers first gave up their momentum, then several players to ejections early in the fourth quarter, and ultimately the lead Friday night in a 28-24 loss to the San Antonio East Central Hornets in District 29-6A football action Friday at the San Marcos Toyota Stadium.

“We didn’t score in the red zone,” Head Coach John Walsh said. “We settled for field goals and then we had inopportune penalties. Just take Buck’s long run for example. You can’t hold.”

Tempers finally boiled over near the end of a Julio Alvarado punt early in the fourth quarter that bounced and rolled inside the East Central 10 before it was downed. Away from the play, however, a scrap between three players quickly escalated into a brawl.

Players from both teams, including the benches on both sidelines, rushed onto the field. The melee moved from the East Central 15 to close to midfield before referees, coaches and even law enforcement were able to restore order.

More than a dozen players were ejected between the two teams, which not only took several Rattlers starters out of the lineup for the remainder of the game, but put them in jeopardy to participate in this week’s game against Judson in Converse.

“That’s not how we want to represent ourselves,” Walsh said. “I’m sure it’s not how [East Central] wants to represent themselves, and it’s unfortunate.

East Central, which had a total of 52 yards at halftime, finally cracked the Rattlers defense and scored on 75- and 65yard catch-and-run pass plays on back-to-back possessions in the third quarter, then, with so many Rattlers starters on the sideline following the ejections, hit a third long pass play, this time for 68 yards with 5:52 remaining.

San Marcos appeared to strike back with a 68yard touchdown run from quarterback Buck Steyn, but the play was called back for holding. The Ratters punted three plays later, only to have that same short-handed punt team give up a 32yard return, setting the Hornets up at the San Marcos 40 with 3:09 remaining.

The Rattlers defense forced East Central into a fourth-and-20, which the Hornets converted when receiver Dei’Rionn Smith-Cline out jumped a pair of defenders and hauled in a 29-yard pass from quarterback Isaish Gonzalez.

A pass interference call on a pass that appeared uncatchable again saved the Hornets, this time converting a third-and-3 at the 14 into a first-andgoal from the 2 as the clock ticked under a minute remaining.

Running back Raymundo Gloria, working out of the wildcat formation, scored nearly untouched from 3 yards out moments later to give the Hornets their only lead of the game.

Steyn and the Rattlers moved the ball to midfield, but East Central finished the Rattlers off by intercepting Steyn’s Hail Mary heave to the goal line as the clock ran out.

The loss snapped a two-game San Marcos district win streak and came in spite of the fact that the Rattlers offense set a new season-high for total yards for the third straight game with 496.

Steyn, who was efficient in the first half, tailed off in the second to finish with 247 yards on 16-of-32 passing with the last-second interception.

Receiver Hank Harris caught four passes for a season-high 137 yards and a touchdown, followed by Aiden Benavidez with six catches for 68 yards.

Running back Justin Tardy went over 100 yards for the second straight game and third time this season with 109 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. Steyn added another 89 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

Gonzalez completed 14 of 21 passes for 295 yards, most of which came on the long touchdown passes. Smith-Cline led all receivers with 182 yards and a pair of touchdowns on six receptions, followed by Ja’Tarius Nichols with 67 yards and a touchdown on a pair of receptions.