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Raton Earns State Berth with Win Over Tucumcari

By Marty Mayfield

KRTN Multi-Media

Raton Tigers hosted the Tucumcari Rattlers for the final district game of the regular season Friday evening November 4th, with a berth in the state playoffs going to the winner of the game as both teams came into the game with a 1-2 record in District 5 3A play.

Once the game got underway the Tigers simply dominated the field, holding Tucumcari to a short first series before beginning the scoring with an 86 yard 15 play drive that ended with a three yard romp by Jonathan Cabriales for six. His PAT was good making it a 7-0 ball game with 1:15 left on the first quarter clock.

Tucumcari started the second quarter of action with a punt that setup another Raton scoring drive from the Tucumcari 40. Despite penalties, it only took Raton five plays to put the ball in the end zone with a 19 yard run from Cabriales. The 2-point try failed and left the score 13-0.

Raton held Tucumcari once again, but the resulting punt put Raton at their own 16. Ismael Tafoya however made it look easy with a 40 yard romp to setup a 19 yard run by Tristen Gallegos a couple of plays later. Dustin Segura ran it in for the 2-point try and made it a 21-0 ball game at 3:22 in the first half.

A fumble on the ensuing kickoff allowed Raton to take over on the 47 and put together another five play drive ending with a nine yard run from Segura. Cabriales PAT was good for a 28-0 lead at 1:09 left in the half.

Third quarter action began with Raton receiving the ball on the kickoff but were unable to make things work for the score and had to punt it away where Tucumcari took over on the one yard-line. One play later Raton pulled off a safety to make it a 30-0 ball game.

Raton struggled with penalties on the next drive and had to punt it away, but three plays later recovered a fumble at the Tucumcari 25. Cabriales took it in from there and added his PAT to make it a 37-0 game with 6:25 left in the third.

Tucumcari unable to move the ball fumbled on the fourth down play and Rafael Maso scooped it up and ran about 70 yards for six. The PAT failed and it was a 43-0 game.

Tucumcari fumbled once again on the kickoff and four plays later Gabe Martinez scrambles 22 yards for six and the PAT by Cabriales puts the ribbon on the game with a 50-0 mercy-rule win at 11:52 on the fourth quarter clock.

Coach Tory Giacomo told KRTN after the game that he was very pleased with how the Raton offensive line played feeling they are now coming together to play like a winning team. The team will now prepare for a first round state game here in Raton next Saturday.

 

Dustin Segura flies into the end zone to make it a 27-0 ball game Friday evening against Tucumcari
Dustin Segura flies into the end zone to make it a 27-0 ball game Friday evening against Tucumcari

 

Jonathan Cabriales once again carries the ball with a host of Rattlers tagging along Friday evening
Jonathan Cabriales once again carries the ball with a host of Rattlers tagging along Friday evening

 

Dustin Segura fakes the hand off to Jonathan Cabriales and then goes for a run to the far side of the field.
Dustin Segura fakes the hand off to Jonathan Cabriales and then goes for a run to the far side of the field.

 

Rattler Casey Carter makes a touchdown saving tackle on Ismael Tafoya Friday evening as Tafoya had an open field ahead all the way to pay dirt.
Rattler Casey Carter makes a touchdown saving tackle on Ismael Tafoya Friday evening as Tafoya had an open field ahead all the way to pay dirt.

 

Tristen Gallegos crosses the goal line for another Raton TD Friday evening with Casey Carter close behind.
Tristen Gallegos crosses the goal line for another Raton TD Friday evening with Casey Carter close behind.

 

Xavier Garcia got a hand on this ball but couldn't quite find the handle on the ball to make the interception.
Xavier Garcia got a hand on this ball but couldn’t quite find the handle on the ball to make the interception.

 

Seth Martinez just gets a hand up in front of Jonathan Cabriales to prevent the catch.
Seth Martinez just gets a hand up in front of Jonathan Cabriales to prevent the catch.

 

Ismael Tafoya gets the tackle as Zach Martinez attempts a spin move to try and prevent the a loss of yardage on the play.
Ismael Tafoya gets the tackle as Zach Martinez attempts a spin move to try and prevent the a loss of yardage on the play.

 

It was a scoop and run by Rafael Maso, a big lineman for Raton, who then took the ball about 75 yards to pay dirt with a Yellow Jersey escort all the way
It was a scoop and run by Rafael Maso (56), a big lineman for Raton, who then took the ball about 75 yards to pay dirt with a Yellow Jersey escort all the way

 

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