The Rattlers are rolling! San Marcos opened their season at Toyota Rattler Stadium on Friday night, earning a huge 40-27 victory over the Hutto Hippos, powered by a ground game that just wouldn’t quit and a defense that stepped up when it mattered most.

Justin Tardy was unstoppable, breaking loose for 161 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground, and six catches for 89 yards through the air to keep the Hippo defense on its heels. Right behind him, Donovan Garcia bulldozed his way to 106 rushing yards and a touchdown — and it wasn’t just any touchdown. With Hutto threatening late, Garcia slammed the door with a 54-yard sprint to the end zone with just 1:27 left in the fourth quarter, sending the Rattler crowd into a frenzy.

Quarterback Buck Steyn kept the offense balanced, completing 10 of 16 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown. He connected with Hank Harris for some big plays — Harris finished with 56 receiving yards on two catches and also made a huge play on defense with an interception.

In all, San Marcos piled up 411 yards of total offense, showing off a balanced attack that left Hutto chasing all night.

The Hippos didn’t go down easy, though. They recovered back-to-back onside kicks late in the game and tried to mount a rally, but the Rattler defense held tough, forcing stops to protect the lead and give the offense one last chance to finish it.

And finish it they did.

With the win, San Marcos not only grabs a victory to start the season, but also builds big momentum heading into a short week. The Rattlers are back in action Thursday night on the road at Weiss High School, where they’ll face the Wolves in another big-time district showdown.