By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Raton’s defense struck quick on the first play of the game when Trinidad fumbled the ball and three plays later the offense punched it over the goal line for six and that would set the tone for the rest of the game as Raton shut out Trinidad 46-0 to take the Coal Bucket back. Coach Tory Giacomo noted after the game it was great to get the bucket back in Raton as the series is now tied at 6 wins apiece and Trinidad had won three in a row up until the Friday night home-opener for the Tigers on September 1st.
Trinidad’s next series went four and out as they turned the ball over on downs, Raton promptly rushed the ball down to the goal line where Richie Acevedo found a hole and crossed the goal line from the two. Aden Vanderwater’s PAT was good and it was a 14-0 ball game.
Trinidad unable to make the plays to move the ball once again turned the ball over on downs but a holding penalty forced Raton into a punting situation. A holding call against Trinidad on the punt put them at their own 10 yard-line. A fumble on the next play recovered by Rafael Maso gave Raton the ball at the 10 where quarterback Dustin Segura scrambled for another Raton six. Vanderwater’s PAT was good and it was a 21-0 game at 8:13 in the second quarter.
Trinidad fumbled on the kickoff and Raton takes over on the 42. Three plays later its a 29 yard pass play to Nathaniel Tarbox for six more. Vanderwater’s PAT is good leaving it a 28-0 game. Trinidad held Raton from scoring and got the ball back with only five seconds left in the half where quarterback Josiah Portenier takes a knee to end the half.
Raton takes the onside kick to start the second half and on a 21 yard pass play from Segura to Tarbox adds six more to the board, with the 2-point try after a mishandled snap fails and leaves it 34-0.
Trinidad suffers a pass interception by Richie Acevedo, and Raton takes over on the 50. Three plays later Segura scrambles over the goal line for another Raton six. Trinidad starts moving the ball as several JV players man the Raton defense but Aden Vanderwater ends that series with a pass interception to begin the fourth quarter. Raton punches the ball in with a 46 yard pass play to Gabe Martinez for another Raton six. Its now a 46-0 game at 6:34 on the fourth quarter continuos running clock.
Trinidad takes the kickoff and Dilan Villa takes the ball to the 50 yard-line. From there Trinidad makes a last ditch effort to score taking the ball down to the 10. An unsportsman like penalty moves the ball to the five but Portenier just couldn’t connect with his receivers to get the ball in as the buzzer sounds to end the Coal Bucket game 46-0.
Raton next travels to Socorro for a tough game there and back to Raton for the Homecoming festivities and a Friday night game with Questa on September 15.
Hear all of the Raton Tiger action on FM 93.9 and streamed on Network1sports.com.
