STAFF REPORT

Two high school football teams from different ends of the emotional spectrum will meet tonight at Bobcat Stadium, where the San Marcos Rattlers will play their home opener against the Bastrop Bears.

The Rattlers took on a very tough opener last week at Waco and held true for half of it, trailing only 7-6 at the intermission. But Waco poured it on in the second half for a 35-6 victory.

Bastrop played its first game under Gerald Perry last week against Hays and notched its first win over the Rebels since 1995. The Bears trailed, 27-13, with little more than five minutes left, then twice marched down field behind the arm of Matt Homesly and the receiving hands of Auston Shipley to score two touchdowns and force overtime. Once in overtime, the Bears claimed a 34-27 win.

The Rattlers beat Bastrop, 38-0 last year in Bastrop. However, the Bears won their last meeting at Bobcat Stadium, a 39-15 decision in 2006.

San Marcos and Bastrop are meeting as non-district rivals after both belonged last year to District 25-5A. Bastrop remains in District 15-5A this year while San Marcos dropped down to Class 4A, where it resides in District 27-4A.