November 1st, 2013
Rattlers playoff chances come down to Friday night

STAFF REPORT

The season has been going dark for the San Marcos High School football team, but the Rattlers have a chance to walk in sunshine again.

But only one. The Ratttlers are playing Friday night at Bobcat Stadium against San Antonio Wagner (7:30 p.m.), in a game pitting the two teams that have yet to win a game within District 25-5A. The Rattlers and Wagner both are 0-6 in the district. San Marcos is 3-5 overall, while Wagner is 0-8 overall.

A win for the Ratters, combined with a New Braunfels Canyon loss at Converse Judson Friday night, would set up the regular season finale — the Rattlers at Canyon on Nov. 8 — as one game for the district’s fourth and final playoff berth. The Rattlers can at least say they’re better off than Wagner, which has no shot at the playoffs. The Thunderbirds already have lost to all the teams with which they could tie for a position if they win their last two games of the season.

The Rattlers are going for a win that would keep them alive in the playoff picture. Wagner is going for its best chance to win a game at all this season. One of these teams is going to make its season Friday night, or, at least, start to.

The records indicate that the Rattlers should be better, as they have won three games. Their two non-district losses came against ranked teams — Georgetown and Steele. So, the Rattlers appear to be better outside the district. Within the district, though, the Rattlers and Wagner have two common opponents, and Wagner has been better against both of them.

The Rattlers lost last week at Converse Judson, 72-18, while Wagner lost on Oct. 11 at Converse Judson, 47-18. The Rattlers lost at home against New Braunfels, 24-7, while Wagner lost at New Braunfels, 27-13.

The Rattlers are going for a win that would keep them alive in the playoff picture. Wagner is going for its best chance to win a game at all this season. One of these teams is going to make its season Friday night, or, at least, start to.

Wagner will not challenge the Rattlers with the high-powered offense that has rolled them in games against Steele, Smithson Valley and Judson. The Thunderbirds average 243.8 offensive yards per game, worst in the district. Smithson Valley quarterback Garrett Smith (273.9) and Judson quarterback RayJohn Austin-Ramsey (258.3) have more yards by themselves.

The Rattlers are fourth in the six-team district in total offense, averaging 347.9 yards per game, evenly between rushing and passing. But the Rattlers have really been picked apart defensively, ranking last in the district in total defense (413.4), rushing defense (228.6) and passing defense (184.8).

Only Wagner ranks worse than San Marcos in scoring defense, allowing 39.1 points per game against 34.8 by the Rattlers. However, the Thunderbirds are fourth in passing defense (173.1), fifth in rushing defense (187.6) and fifth in total defense (360.8).