San Marcos’ return to the playoffs was eight years in the making. One might even say it was a little tardy in coming.
But Rattlers running back Justin Tardy was right on time Friday night, running for three touchdowns and catching another to lead San Marcos to a 42-10 win Friday against the Eagle Pass Eagles in a Class 6A, Division II Bi-District playoff game at Toyota Rattler Stadium.
“It means a lot to be able to fight through adversity with me and my brothers,” Tardy said. “This is something the scholl has been waiting for [since] my freshman year. So it means a lot to first come out here and dominate.”
Tardy, who scored on runs of 9, 10 and 5 yards, finished with 95 yards on 10 carries. The senior also caught two passes for 40 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown catch-and-run from quarterback Buck Steyn.
He also added an interception on defense for good measure.
Tardy’s interception was one of four San Marcos took from Eagles quarterback Xavier Barrera, who finished with 86 yards on 9-of-22 passing.
It was really a hard defense of effort, getting pressure on the quarterback led to DBs catching these picks,” senior linebacker Darius Davis said. “The [defensive backs] playing good coverage led us to getting sacks, forcing fumbles and taking it to the house. It really is a whole defensive effort. We practiced and watched all the film. We knew what they wanted to do so we took away what they wanted to do, made them do what they didn't want.”
Eagle Pass running back Luis Flores ran for 85 yards on 18 carries, caught another two passes for eight yards and threw the team’s only touchdown on a 39-yard halfback-pass play to Jeremiah Silva.
The score made it 14-7 San Marcos early in the second quarter and a field goal on the next possession got the Eagles to within 3, but they could get no closer.
Elliott Gray added a 3-yard touchdown run and Jah’marien Nichols chipped in a 65-yard scoop-and-score touchdown when Barrera coughed up the ball on a scramble.
“Our journey's been special over a three year period,” Head Coach John Walsh said. “We're talking about our journey for the season. It's special. It's special, kids, special adults and special community There's nothing better than Rattler Stadium on a Friday night.”
The win pits San Marcos against the Edinburg Bobcats this Saturday at Buccaneer Stadium in Corpus Christi. The Bobcats are coming off a 24-13 win over the Brownsville Veterans Memorial Chargers in the Bi-District round of the playoffs while finishing the regular season with a 6-4 overall record.
San Marcos 42, Eagle Pass 10
EPHS 0 10 0 0 -- 10
SMHS 7 14 21 0 -- 42
First Quarter
SMHS - Justin Tardy 9 run (Julio Alvarado kick), 8:50
Second Quarter
SMHS - Tardy 27 pass from Buck Steyn (Alvarado kick), 8:40
EPHS - Jeremiah Silva 39 pass from Luis Flores (Ivan Cruz kick), 7:58
EPHS - FG: 20, Cruz, 5:48
SMHS - Tardy 10 run (Alvarado kick), 1:57
Third Quarter
SMHS - Tardy 5 run (Alvarado kick), 10:23
SMHS - Elliott Gray 3 run (Alvarado kick), 7:30
SMHS - Jah'marien Nichols 65 fumble return (Alvarado kick), 3:46
EPHS SMHS
First Downs 12 17
Total Plays-Net Yds 56-243 51-319
Rushes-Yds 33-118 31-203
Passing 125 116
Comp-Att-Int 10-23-4 10-20-1
Punts-Net Avg. 3-7 1-47
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 4-1
Penalties-Yds 2-15 6-58
Time of Poss 21:52 26:08
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING - EPHS: Luis Flores 18-85, Avery Embry 8-32, Xavier Barrera 7-1; SMHS: Justin Tardy 10-95, Donovan Garcia 7-41, I'zayah Young 2-32, Buck Steyn 4-25, Elliott Gray 5-23, Jayden Steggell 3--13
PASSING - EPHS: Barrera 9-22-4 86, Flores 1-1-0 39; SMHS: Steyn 10-18-1 116, Steggell 0-2-0 0
RECEIVING - EPHS: Jeremiah Silva 2-55, Sebastian Velazquez 2-47, Jesus Barba 4-23, Flores 2-8; SMHS: Tardy 2-40, Garcia 2-24, Jordan Lampkin 1-23, Hank Harris 3-22, Darrian Cruz 1-4, Elliott Gray 1-3
