Miller and Goodnight squared off in the 18th annual Rattler Cup under the bright lights of Rattler Stadium. The Rattler Cup has been a yearly tradition in San Marcos since 2005.
Daily Record photo by Colton McWilliams
The Goodnight defense comes up with the safety to give themselves two points.
Daily Record photo by Colton McWilliams
Miller and Goodnight face off for the 18th time for bragging rights of the Rattler Cup.
Daily Record photo by Colton McWilliams
Goodnight celebrates winning the Rattler Cup in the annual clash between the San Marcos CISD middle schools.
Daily Record photo by Colton McWilliams
The Miller defense comes up with the stop on third down.
Daily Record photo by Colton McWilliams
SNAKEBOWL 2023
Goodnight and Miller clash in 18th annual Rattler Cup
Bragging rights were on the line as the 18th annual Rattler Cup showcased the future of the San Marcos Rattler football program, as Goodnight Middle School faced off with archival Miller Middle School.
The game has been a unique San Marcos tradition over the past two decades–since the opening of Miller Middle School in 1996, as future Rattlers square off with each other for the final time before transitioning to high school, as Athletic Director John Walsh explained.
“When you are in a town with one high school, your middle schools become rivals before they unite,” Walsh said. “In the four years that I’ve been here, the Miller-Goodnight game has been pretty spirited and last night didn’t let us down. The crowd was into it and the kids played tough games. ... You could feel the energy.”
Not only has the game become a place to see the future of Rattler football but also a chance for many people to relive their former middle school glory years.
“It just makes memories,” Walsh said. “I’m in the end zone with our varsity players and they were talking about their Goodnight- Miller games four years ago. They knew play by play, who played where . Just watching those kids (on the field) knowing that they will be saying the same things in the next four years is a special time.”
Playing in front of the bright lights of Toyota Rattler Stadium for the first time this season, Miller and Goodnight battled in four games spread across two stadiums with the both the seventh and eighth grade A teams playing at Toyota Rattler Stadium.
In the main event for the evening, the Eighth Grade A teams took the field with a chance to bring home the Rattler Cup which was established in 2005.
Miller was looking to win their first Rattler Cup since 2009 while Goodnight looked to continue their dominance winning 12 of the last 13 Rattler Cups with the lone exception being a tie.
On the opening kickoff, Goodnight pinned Miller inside their own five yard.
The stop proved pivotal as Goodnight sacked the quarterback in the endzone to go up 2-0 on Miller.
The safety turned out to be the lone score of the game as Goodnight held on to take home the Rattler Cup with a 2-0 over Miller.
After the game, the two teams embraced as the players will become teamates the next season.
cmcwilliams@sanmarcosrecord.com Twitter: @ColtonBMc
