SMHS FOOTBALL
To paraphrase a quote from the legendary wrestler Ric Flair, to be the champion, you have to beat the champion.
That is what lays at the feet for the Rattlers this Friday at the Alamodome when San Marcos goes up against the defending 6A Division II State Champions in the Austin Vandegrift Vipers.
The Rattlers’ playoff success can be attributed to the high level of defensive play of the vaunted Purple Thunder defense. San Marcos has allowed a combined 13 points in two playoff games, the fewest points allowed through two playoffs for the Rattlers since 1965, when they allowed 0 points in their first two playoff games.
The Rattler offense has started to pick up steam in the last two playoff games, scoring over 30 points in both wins, which include gaining over 300 yards of total offense.
Vandegrift enters the game with a 10-2 overall record, having captured the 6A District 25 championship as well as being the defending state champions.
The Vipers pulled off a shocker in the first round by defeating Austin Westlake 16-14, hitting a game-winning field goal as time expired. Vandegrift followed up that win with a dominating 37-7 victory over San Antonio Brandeis in the Area round of the playoffs.
The Vipers offense is led by senior quarterback Miles Teodecki who has passed for 1,729 yards and 13 touchdowns while rushing for 210 yards and two touchdowns. Teodecki’s main target has been senior wide receiver Brock Chilton with 75 catches for 829 yards and eight touchdowns. Senior Thomas Buechler is second in receiving with 37 catches for 428 yards and two touchdowns.
On the ground, the Vipers are led by the duo of seniors Justin Moore and Sam Brown. Moore leads the team with 162 carries for 666 yards and 11 touchdowns while Brown has rushed the ball for 627 yards on 113 carries and eight touchdowns.
The Viper offense has averaged 31.5 points through 12 games compared to the Rattlers offense of averaging 29.1 points through 12 games. Defensively, senior linebacker Parker Davis leads the team with 73 total tackles along with 24 solo tackles and 4.0 tackles for loss. Senior defensive lineman Hugo DeLaVara Vazquez leads the team in solo tackles with 27 along with 61 total tackles and 15.0 tackles for loss. The Viper defense has made 10 interceptions for the season along with eight fumble recoveries.
The Vipers have allowed an average of 14.4 points through 12 games compared to the Rattlers average of 17 points.
Since Vandegrift’s first season in 2010, the Rattlers and the Vipers have only met once all-time, coming in 2015 during the Area round of the playoffs with San Marcos falling 63-13.
Since the expansion of the playoffs in 1982, San Marcos has qualified for the regional semifinals three times in program history.
The first came in 1999 during the third year of Head Coach Bruce Bush’s tenure. After defeating Kerville Tivy to win the Rattlers first playoff game in 33 years, San Marcos defeated Austin Reagan 28-7 in Area before defeating Floresville in the regional semifinals in front of a packed house at UFCU Stadium, formerly Bobcat Stadium.
San Marcos season came to an end against Schertz Clemens in the regional final.
The second time the Rattlers qualified for the regional semifinals came in 2006 after San Marcos finished the season at 5-5. San Marcos stunned Smithson Valley at their own stadium, winning 35-34 in the Bi-District round for the Rattlers first ever win over the Rangers. The Rattlers then defeated San Antonio Marshall 28-27 in Area before beating Harlingen South 27-7 in the regional semifinals.
San Marcos fell to San Antonio MacArthur 5043 in the regional final.
Kickoff for San Marcos-Vandergrift is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
San Marcos will look for their first ever win against Austin Vandegrift having last played in 2015 in the Area round of the playoffs. The Vipers defeated the Rattlers 63-14. Daily Record photo by Gerald Castillo
The Rattlers have qualified for the regional semifinals three times in program history since the expansion of the playoffs in 1982. The first came in 1999 when the Rattlers defeated the Floresville Tigers 24-9 at UFCU Stadium, formerly Bobcat Stadium. Daily Record archives
