Rattlers comeback falls short versus Eagle Pass

San Marcos couldn’t get on track in the second half Friday.

The Rattlers lost a gut-wrenching 40-32 battle with Eagle Pass after going into halftime with a 24-21 lead. The Eagles went on a 13-0 run in the third quarter and never looked back for the rest of the game despite San Marcos’ comeback efforts.

Eagle Pass opened up the game with a bang. The Eagles marched down the field in just a handful of plays, with a deep pass to convert on third and short early in the drive being the most impactful. After getting to the Rattlers’ red zone, the Eagles scored on a short slant pass to put the first score on the board.

San Marcos didn’t waste time responding — senior running back Stefan Stennett opened up the drive with a 20-plus yard rush to move the Rattlers into Eagle territory, and then sophomore Donovan Garcia finished the job with a 30-plus yard scamper to the end zone to tie things up at 7-7 early.

The Purple and White seemed to continue their momentum, but it stopped as soon as it started. The Rattlers forced a three and out on the Eagles’ ensuing possession, but fumbled on their opening play to immediately give the ball back.

Eagle Pass would capitalize, once again driving down the field and this time scoring on a touchdown pass over the top of the San Marcos defense to regain the lead at 14-7. The Eagles would build upon their score and force the Purple and White to punt on their next possession.

It seemed like Eagle Pass’ offense was operating at their same efficient pace on their following drive, but San Marcos’ defense finally bowed up in their own territory. The Purple and White forced a fourth down and the Eagles scored on another touchdown pass — but there was dirty laundry on the play. Eagle Pass was called for a penalty, eliminating the score and forcing the Eagles to punt.

San Marcos had a much needed retaliation on offense afterwards. The Rattlers methodically drove down the field using their rushing attack and even worked junior defensive back Braydon Heyward into the running back rotation. Garcia would get his second rushing score of the day on a short carry from the inside the 10yard line to knot things up at 14-14.

The Rattlers momentum swing didn’t stop there. San Marcos forced a fumble on the Eagles’ first set of downs on their following possession, and returned it to Eagle Pass’ sixyard line. Stennett would get into the end zone for his first score of the day, once again on a short yardage rush from the red zone to give San Marcos a 2114 lead.

Eagle Pass wasn’t ready to give the Purple and White all the momentum heading into half though, as the Eagles would get back to how their first two possessions looked — moving down the field in chunk plays behind their passing attack. That’s how they’d get in the end zone again as well, scoring on a pass to the middle of the defense and the end zone to tie the game at 21-21.

San Marcos got back to their patient rushing attack on their next drive, winding the clock and moving down the field before getting stopped in the red zone and electing to kick a field goal. Sophomore kicker Julio Alvarado put a 23-yarder through the uprights, giving the Rattlers a 24-21 lead heading into the half.

San Marcos came out of the half with a boost to the roster. Star senior receiver and defensive back Tony Diaz was back in the game after serving a one-half suspension due to an ejection last week. Diaz started off strong, getting multiple first downs for the Rattlers. Unfortunately for the Purple and White penalties would derail the drive and the Eagles would force them to punt.

Eagle Pass would keep control of the momentum, scoring on a 60-plus yard touchdown pass on the first play of their possession. San Marcos blocked the extra point, making the Eagles’ lead 27-24 early in the third quarter.

Diaz would give the Rattlers optimal field position to start their next drive after a kickoff return to near the 50. San Marcos would turn to their rushing attack again to move the ball, getting into the Eagles’ red zone. That rushing attack would get the Rattlers snake bit though — with Eagle Pass forcing a fumble and recovering on the Purple and White’s first play in the red zone.

San Marcos would stop the Eagles in their own territory this time and regain possession with a chance to tie the game or take the lead. The Rattlers moved past midfield and converted on third and 20 — but then the flags started flying. Penalties pushed the Purple and White deep back into their own territory eventually leading to a punt.

The Eagles took advantage of their stop and moved into San Marcos’ red zone on a big QB scramble early in the drive. They’d extend their lead with a fourth touchdown pass in the red zone to go up 34-24 heading into the final frame.

San Marcos used up about half of the quarter on a methodical drive down the field using chunk passes to Diaz and runs from Garcia and Stennett. The Rattlers pushed their way down to the Eagles’ red zone once again, but senior quarterback Kutter Gage Webb threw his first interception of the game.

Eagle Pass capitalized off a turnover once more, getting their fifth passing touchdown of the game on a 50-plus yard score. That touchdown pass built the Eagles’ lead to 40-24 after a missed extra point. San Marcos would continue to battle despite the circumstances, with Diaz returning the kickoff to almost midfield and the offense driving to the red zone and scoring on a short touchdown pass to Diaz. Webb would connect with receiver Fabian Castaneda on the two-point conversion to cut Eagle Pass’ lead to 42-30 late in the fourth.

San Marcos attempted an onside kick to try to have a chance to tie things up, but the Eagles recovered and began to run the clock with the ball in their hands. San Marcos would end up getting one last play with two seconds left on the clock, but the Eagles would get the stop and end the game.

San Marcos (0-5) will look forward to play in District 27-6A after their bye week. The Rattlers will face off with Clemens at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 6.

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