Teams to watch: San Marcos Rattlers

After two years of playing safety and anchoring the San Marcos defense, senior Prudy Calderon made the switch to quarterback before this season to fill a big hole offensively. The position change has paid off through six games this year – both for Calderon and the Rattlers. Calderon has 1,762 total yards and 23 touchdowns, helping San Marcos jump out to a 5-1 start. He guided the Rattlers to a 31-15 win over Del Valle in the District 14-6A opener last week, accounting for 314 total yards and four scores. “Just a magnificent year,” San Marcos coach Mark Soto said of his quarterback. “He carries himself with such confidence, and he doesn’t mind putting the team on his back. He’s just a great kid and he’s picked it up very fast.” While Calderon has been the star and the engine of the offense, it’s been San Marcos’ ability to spread the ball around the field that’s really made the difference this season. After going 6-5 last year, the Rattlers need just one more win to match that total in 2017. Calderon’s running ability brings an added dimension to the offense the Rattlers were missing last season, opening up space for running back Jamon Johnson (725 total yards, 8 TDs) and a deep wide receiver corps led by Elijah Aikens (226 yards, 2 TDs) and Julian Perez (189 yards, 2 TDs). The offense has thrived to the tune of an average of more than 38 points per game, and Soto hopes the group will continue to give defenses problems as the district season progresses. “It opens things up because we have a great running game with an offensive line that’s doing some great things,” Soto said. “Then we’ve got a receiving corps that’s catching balls when they need to. It’s kind of hard to defend – you’ve got a three-headed snake out there.” While San Marcos is 5-1 for the second time under Soto, the team now has its sights set on a district championship. For now, Austin Bowie (4-1) remains the team to beat in 14-6A as the defending champion. The Rattlers still have to go through Akins, Manor and Anderson before a pivotal clash on the road against the Bulldogs to close out the season. “You know, we never really talk about it like that,” Soto said. “We try to get our team better no matter who we’re playing, whether it be an Akins or a Bowie or a Del Valle – doesn’t matter. Of course, there’s some good teams out there that we have to battle, but we can’t do anything until we get ourselves right.” Even so, Soto admitted his players may have the season finale against Bowie circled on the calendar. The Rattlers lost to the Bulldogs 59-7 last year, giving a strong senior class a lot to play for this time around. “Without a doubt, I see this team being one of those [that can win a district championship],” Soto said. “If they continue to play together the way they have and build their brotherhood and develop that love and concern for each other, that’s the power this team has. “They love each other and they’re playing for each other right now.”

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