Rattlers fall to rival Unicorns in 69th gridiron meeting

In the 69th all-time meeting between rivals San Marcos and New Braunfels, the Unicorns jumped out to a 28-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back, winning 45-14 over the Rattlers.

New Braunfels extends their lead for the all-time series wins at 36-33 and improves to 5-4 overall, while the Rattlers fall to 0-8.

San Marcos made a big splash on their first possession as Kutter Gage Webb found Tony Diaz on a big passing play, to move into New Braunfels’ territory.

But the drive stalled out as the Unicorns forced a punt.

The Rattler defense responded by coming up with the turnover on the next play, as Diaz picked off the quarterback to come up with the interception.

New Braunfels forced a turnover of their own, as the Unicorns got the fumble to give the ball back to the offense.

Moving inside the redzone, the Unicorns punched it in from two yards, as New Braunfels went up 7-0.

The Rattlers tried to move the ball on their next drive, but the Unicorn defense held strong to force the punt.

Then disaster struck for San Marcos, as the snap flew over the punter’s head and the Unicorns recovered the ball at the Rattler four-yard line.

One play later, the Unicorns scored from four yards out, as New Braunfels extended their lead to 14-0.

San Marcos tried to move the ball on their next drive but again came up short against the New Braunfels defense, forcing another punt.

The Unicorn offense continued to move the ball before scoring on a 48-yard touchdown pass and once again, New Braunfels extended their lead to 21-0.

The Rattler offense found some traction on the ground as running back Donovan Garcia broke loose for a 56-yard run to put the ball at the Unicorn 21-yard line.

San Marcos was unable to punch it in as the Rattler offense could not convert on fourth down, giving the ball back to New Braunfels.

The Unicorns struck again, scoring on a 81yard rushing touchdown to push their lead to 28-0 as both teams entered the second quarter.

Following a three and out, disaster again struck for the Rattlers as the Unicorns blocked the punt to put the ball at the San Marcos eight-yard line.

New Braunfels punched it in from five yards out, as the Unicorns extended the lead to 35-0.

Following another San Marcos punt, the Unicorns used a punt return to move inside the Rattler 30-yard line.

But the Rattler defense bowed their necks and stopped the Unicorn offense on fourth down, to give the ball back to the offense.

In response, San Marcos moved the ball down the field via a couple of 10 plus runs from Garcia.

Driving down to the New Braunfels 17-yard line, the Rattlers got their first points of the game as Webb found Miguel Reynero for the score as San Marcos cut the Unicorns lead down to 35-7.

The Unicorns tried to answer back in their final drive of the first but were once again foiled, as Fernando Hernandez came down with the interception to keep the score 357.

Receiving the ball to start the second half, the Unicorns extended their lead on their opening drive scoring a 38-yard touchdown run to go up 42-7.

The Rattlers moved the ball to their own 45-yard line following a 15-yard run by Garcia but were forced to punt to midfield.

The Unicorns continued to move the ball on the Rattlers, going down to the San Marcos 19yard line.

But the Rattler defense kept the Unicorns out of the endzone, forcing the field goal as New Braunfels extended the lead to 45-7.

San Marcos continued to move the ball on the ground as Garcia took off for a 17-yard run to set up shop at their own 47-yard line as both teams went into the fourth quarter.

The Rattlers continued to move the ball as Webb found Diaz on fourth down, extending the drive to move to the New Braunfels 32-yard line.

However, San Marcos was unable to get away with any points, as the Unicorns stopped the Rattlers on fourth down.

The San Marcos defense forced the Unicorns to punt as the Rattler offense moved the ball against New Braunfels, getting down to the Unicorn five-yard line following a 30-yard pass from Webb to Diaz.

Garcia punched it in from the four-yard line on third and goal to make it a 45-14 game.

The Rattlers then recovered the ensuing kickoff , to give the ball back to the offense at the Unicorn 31-yard line.

But the Unicorn defense came up with the fumble on the next play, giving the ball back to the New Braunfels offense.

The Unicorns were able to kneel out the rest of the possession to seal the win.

San Marcos will look to win their first game of the season in the regular season finale as the Rattlers host the East Central Hornets.