After allowing McNeil to run up and down the field to the tune of 236 yards in the opening week of the season, Bastrop’s defense has set out to prove it can stop the run.
In their last two games, the Bears have allowed a total of 266 rushing yards.
If Bastrop (2-1) was trying to make the statement it can stop the run, San Marcos is still going to attempt to test them.
“We are going to see a lot of the same stuff we saw at McNeil,” said head coach Gerald Perry. “McNeil played us tough and that game showed our kids that you have to finish.”
San Marcos (0-2) will more than likely run the football right at Bastrop.
In two games this season, the Rattlers have attempted just 24 passing attempts to 78 rushing attempts.
San Marcos has yet to see 100 yards passing for the season, having 28 yards through the air against Marble Falls and 34 last week against Hays.
Compare that to 218 yards on the ground against the Rebels.
Bastrop’s offense has come alive in recent weeks.
The Bears have scored 114 points in two games and averages 44.7 points per game.
But head coach Gerald Perry said the Rattlers defense will mimic New Braunfels.
“They will stunt a lot,” Perry said. “They will run a lot of blitz packages, which will mean our receivers will be in man-to-man coverage. That’s the way we want it.”
If the Rattlers chose to blitz quarterback Josiah Monroe, it should play right into the Bears hands.
Monroe, who has 773 yards of offense and 10 touchdowns in the Bears’ last two games, has matured in his position.
The senior’s game has changed  with the offense —  instead of one go-to receiver, Monroe has found seven different receivers of which four have caught five-or-more passes.
“We’ve been telling him for two years now, he doesn’t have to hit the home run shot every time,” Perry said. “He has really matured as a quarterback and is going through his reads and finding the open receivers.”

Has Bastrop found a running game?
Bastrop’s offense isn’t really known for being able to run the football.
However, in three games, the Bears are averaging 187 yards rushing per game.
Bastrop had just three games in 2009 where it rushed for more than 100 yards.
Monroe is the team’s only player over 100 yards for the season, but Marcus Reed, Trae Bunton and Mark Jackson are doing it by committee.
Sophomore Paul Whitmill also showed that he can be productive when called on, rushing for 76 yards on 9 carries, including a 48-yard sprint to the endzone in the fourth quarter against Akins.

The Rattler curse
Bastrop has only defeated San Marcos twice since the turn of the millennium.
There was a small amount of controversy stemming from last year’s 10-7 victory because of the game being shortened due to rain.
It was Bastrop’s first win over the Rattlers in five previous tries.
Bastrop head coach Gerald Perry, left, has never won at Bobcat Stadium and is 0-2 all-time in San Marcos, including last year’s playoff game against New Braunfels.

BASTROP AT SAN MARCOS
Records: Bastrop is 2-1, San Marcos is 0-2
Last week: Bastrop def. Akins 63-7; Hays def. San Marcos 34-17
Last meeting: Bastrop 10, San Marcos 7 in 2009

BASTROP VS. SAN MARCOS THE HISTORY
Year    Winner    Score
2009     Bastrop    10-7
2008    San Marcos    27-26
2007    San Marcos    38-0
2006    San Marcos    39-15
2003    San Marcos    42-24
2002     San Marcos    37-0
2001    Bastrop    21-0
2000    San Marcos     22-0
1999    San Marcos    24-21
1998    Bastrop    27-20
1934    San Marcos    7-0
San Marcos leads series 8-3
— Michael Adams