SMHS FOOTBALL
San Marcos opens 2024 on the road as the Rattlers battle the Hutto Hippos with the hope of starting the season off strong.
Despite the Hippos losing seven offensive starters from last year’s team, including now Texas Tech quarterback Will Hammond, Head Coach John Walsh doesn’t see any change in the Hutto offense.
“They look really similar,” Walsh said. “They have a couple of quarterbacks who can really spin it and they have some good athletes out there. Like last year, their quarterbacks can run, which poses a problem.”
The key for the Rattlers is not only stopping the quarterbacks from scrambling but also using their offense to keep possession of the ball and disrupt the Hippo offense.
“We cannot let the quarterback run the football,” Walsh said. “We are going to keep him in the pocket and not let him scramble. Then on our side, we have to control the clock.”
The Hippos finished the 2023 season with a 4-7 record, finishing fourth in District 12 and qualifying for the playoffs. Hutto has since moved into District 25 in Region IV joining Austin Vandergrift, Cedar Park Vista Ridge, Manor, Round Rock, Round Rock Cedar Ridge, Round Rock McNeil, Round Rock Stony Point and Round Rock Westwood.
The Hippos are currently predicted to finish sixth in the District 25 standings, according to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine, behind Westwood and Vista Ridge for the final playoff spot.
The history of the San Marcos-Hutto series is a brief one with the first ever meeting between the two teams coming in the 2022 season opener.
Hutto won the first ever game between the Rattlers and the Hippos, winning 46-21 before a 66-35 victory in the 2023 game.
Kickoff for the San Marcos-Hutto game is set for tonight at 7:30 p.m. from Hutto Memorial Stadium.
cmcwilliams @sanmarcosrecord.com Twitter: @ColtonBMc
