By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
The weather was perfect again at the start of football in Raton’s “Jungle” Friday night, September 9th as Raton hosted 4A Socorro for a non-conference game. Socorro would jump out to a quick lead, but had to hold on desperately for a 21-14 win as Raton scored late and was at the threshold with the rally ending with an incompletion at the Socorro five yard line.
Socorro caught the Tigers off guard and scored quickly on the legs of Mike Armijo. Armijo took the ball on one 48-yard romp to the Tiger three-yard line, where he punched it in on the next play and then kicked the point after for a 7-0 lead with 9:50 still on the first period clock.
The Warriors held Raton on their first series and forced a punt. Socorro then used the legs of Thomas Padilla, who posting a 25-yard run and three plays later followed it up with a 20-yard run for six more points. The PAT was good and Socorro’s lead was 14-0. But, just like the North wind that began blowing, The Raton defense stiffened and dug in to hold Socorro scoreless the remainder of the half.
The Raton offense, however just couldn’t get things to gel and turned the ball over on a fumble and then had to punt to start the second quarter. The Raton defense held and DB Dustin Segura, intercepted a Clinton Wellborn pass. Back on offense, QB Segura and the offense moved the ball, but stalled out and couldn’t get any closer than the 13 yard line. An attempted 30-yard field goal by Jonathan Cabriales had the distance, but sailed away to the right.
After the second half kickoff, Raton fumbled on the first play of the third quarter. Socorro, with the help of a personal foul, would score the eventual game-winner, on a 3-yard run by quarterback Clinton Wellborn. The PAT was good and Socorro’s lead was 21-0 with 9:12 on the third quarter clock.
Thomas Padilla intercepted a Dustin Segura pass but Socorro couldn’t capitalize and the Raton D held the Warriors on a fourth down conversion attempt and turned the ball over on downs. The Raton offense finally got things going with some big runs by Cabriales, as they took the ball down the field and ended up at the 10-yardline after a face mask penalty. Segura’s pass into the end zone was intended for Richie Acevedo, who got a hand on the ball and tipped it right to Gabe Martinez for six. Cabriales PAT was good and it was a 21-7 ball game.
The Raton defense held once again and Raton offense with the stiff wind at their back, blew down the field ending the series with a 10-yard Cabriales run for six more. Cabriales added the PAT and made it a 21-14 game with 3:54 left on the clock.
Raton’s defense again rose to the occasion and Socorro went three and out. With a short pnt into the stiff wind, Raton started on the Socorro 46. A procedure penalty and a 10-yard sack however hampered the Raton offense in their effort to tie the game before the clock ran out. Raton had a couple of close chances as deep passes just didn’t connect.
Coach Tori Giacomo was very pleased with his defensive effort Friday night in light of the fact that Socorro is ranked ninth in 4A football. Raton will travel to Ft. Wingate Saturday to meet a team they haven’t played before and Giacomo noted they hadn’t seen any video on the team so he wasn’t sure what to expect.
