San Marcos’ second half woes struck again as the Rattlers fell to the Schertz Clemens Buffaloes 35-8.
The Rattlers led 8-7 at halftime before the Buffaloes scored 28 unanswered points.
“In the first half if we get it in on the one yard line, that kick return doesn’t happen and it's a different ballgame,” Head Coach John Walsh said. “It’s a different motivation and the kids feel different. When those two things didn’t happen, the momentum went to their side.”
On the Rattlers first possession of the game after receiving the opening kickoff, San Marcos was able to cross the 50 yard line following a big run by running back Donovan Garcia.
However, the Buffalo defense held their own following the rush and forced San Marcos to punt. Disaster struck for the Rattlers as the snap the punter went over the head, allowing Clemens to down the ball at the San Marcos 18-yard line.
Clemens took advantage of the mistake by scoring a 18-yard touchdown pass to put the Buffaloes up 7-0.
But despite the touchdown, the Rattlers were able to answer back. Going on a 75-yard drive, San Marcos scored on a Andrew Farias nine-yard touchdown run. After catching the Buffaloes offsides on the extra point kick, the Rattlers went for the 2-point conversion and scored as Garcia found the endzone once more, giving San Marcos a 8-7 lead.
Clemens tried to respond on their next drive but the Rattler defense came up with a massive stop on fourth down to give the ball back to the offense.
San Marcos once again went on a long offensive drive, using their patent rushing attack to drive all the way down to the one yard line.
But Clemens came up with two big tackles for losses to force a field goal attempt which San Marcos missed to keep the score at 8-7 going into halftime.
The Buffaloes snatched the momentum in the second half by returning the kickoff 80 yards for the score to retake the lead at 15-8 after converting the two-point conversion.
The Rattler offense went three and out on their next offensive drive before Clemens scored again on a 44-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead 22-8.
San Marcos got the ball back and proceeded to make another long offensive drive, looking to answer back. But the Clemens defense snuffed out the Rattlers on fourth down and gave the ball back to the Buffalo offense.
The Buffaloes drove to inside the redzone before scoring from 18-yards out to push their lead 29-8.
Clemens tacked on their final score of the game in the fourth quarter by scoring on a 68 yard fumble return for a touchdown to make it a 35-8 game after not converting on the two-point conversion.
San Marcos will be back on the road Friday night against the San Antonio East Central Hornets.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
