The 2021 Raton Tiger football team rolled into the semi-final game of the AAA NM Playoffs at Santa Fe St. Michael’s undefeated and seeded #1 in the rankings.
But, as they say, the game is played on the field and #4 St. Mikes put together a key 20 play-drive in the first half that included converting a fake punt, and stifled the normally potent Raton offense for a 7 – 0 win and a berth in the championship game.
Late November weather was not a factor in the game as mid-50s temperatures and light winds prevailed, but the Raton offense could never catch a tailwind. The offense kept it for 7 plays on their first possession, but then punted and turned it over on downs at the Horsemen 25 on the second possession.
Raton’s defense has been stellar all year and the Tiger defenders made the Horsemen punt on a three and out after the first two possessions. On the second punt, Santa Fe’s punter Creed Chavez boomed a field changing kick that was downed on the Raton 8. Raton’s offense started clicking as a 15 yard run by QB Dylan Quartieri was followed by two long runs by Cayden Walton which both ended the first and began the 2nd quarter. Coupled with a pass interference penalty on St. Mikes, Raton had a first down on the Horsemen’s 21, but the drive stalled there as the St.ikes defense stiffened and Raton turned it over on downs.
Santa Fe then began the only drive in the game that resulted in points from their own 19. The 20-play drive included a gutsy fake punt conversion on 4th and 9 at the Raton 31, and overcoming a holding penalty. Raton was flagged for two Pass Interference calls and looked liked they had St. Mikes stopped on a 3rd and 11 from the Raton 19, but senior Devon Flores high-pointed a ball in the end zone and with 1:14 left in the first half the Horsemen led 7 – 0.
The second half had St. Mikes get the ball and after back-to-back sacks by Henry Coronado and Matthew Quartieri, they punted the ball, but the nine plays used up almost half of the time in the third quarter.
Raton and St. Mikes traded punts with the Tigers taking over on their own 38 as the third quarter wound down. Raton looked to be gaining some offensive rhythm with a 14 yard Walton run and a personal foul on St. Mikes giving Raton a first down on the Horsemens 43.
Raton committed two turn-overs in the game, none resulting in points, but both were drive killers and the first was a bad snap fumble that the Horsemen recovered at their own 48.
After that miscue, Raton’s Anderson Weese, gave Raton a momentary reprieve and got the ball back for the visitors on an interception and run back to the St. Mikes 34. A 20 yard screen completion to Chance Middlebrook followed and gave Raton a first and 10 at the Santa Fe 12 yard line and they appeared poised to go in for the tying score. St. Mike’s Creed Chavez had other thoughts, though as the junior intercepted a ball intended for Walton to give the home team the ball with just over 5 minutes left. A big run on first down by Daymon Lujan and another pass interference penalty on the Tigers would put the ball on the Raton side of the 50, but the game was salted away with just under 2:00 minutes on another 4th and short conversion.
St Mikes will play at Las Vegas Robertson on Saturday, November 27 for the AAA NM State Championship as the #3 Cardinals beat #2 Socorro 39-28.
Raton accomplished one of the best seasons ever in school history. Going 11-1, winning the regular season District 2AAA Championship, and earning the #1 ranking during the season and #1 seed for the championships.
Raton Seniors included #55 Abe Alvarado; #66 Henry Coronado; #11 Ashan Maso; #9 Chance Middlebrook; #7 Dre Nash; #6 Dylan Quartieri; # 1 Matthew Quartieri; #77 Devon Ramirez; #44 Brandon Robertson.
