By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Homecoming football took to the jungle Friday night with a stiff breeze, a sprinkle after halftime and a rousing win over the Cuba Rams (55-14).
However the real class act came in the second quarter with Raton on top 41-0. In a move that some might classify as a slap or an insult, others will find it a class act as coach Tori Giacomo told his players to play hard, block hard and run hard, but hold the score. Twice the boys took the ball to the 2-yardline where they ran it out of bounds instead of taking it in to the end zone and running up the score.
Giacomo told KRTN after the game we have been in that position before just like Cuba and other teams had run the score up on Raton. Giacomo not only wanted to get his boys more playing time but it would give them a chance to run and practice some throwing plays and work with receivers in a game that they hadn’t had the opportunity to run before. He also wanted to get some playing time for his younger players who also stepped up and played a good game.
By the end of the first quarter Raton had posted 28 points on the scoreboard. A bad snap on a punt left the ball on the Cuba 11-yardline. Raton also had a bad snap and on the next play Jonathan Cabriales rambled it in for a 13-yard TD. Cabriales got the call again for a 21 yard run, his PAT was good leaving it 14-0. A fumble on the ensuing kickoff recovered by Richie Acevedo left the ball at the Cuba 15. Three plays later Cabriales once again runs in for six.
Cuba would finally threaten but a fumble at the 10-yardline would give the ball back to Raton. Once again it was Jonathan Cabriales who put the burner to it and scrambled 67 yards for six more points with only four seconds left in the first quarter.
The Raton defense would once again do their job and force a punt which Cabriales would take to the Cuba 12-yardline. Ismael Tafoya would do the honors and add six more to the board. Another three and out for Cuba would put the ball on the 20 where Dustin Segura would then scramble for an 80-yard touchdown. The point after was good and Raton lead 41-0.
The class act begins as Raton takes the ball down and punts it into the end zone for a touchback. A pass interception by Dante Romero would allow Raton to do it again and turn the ball over to Cuba without scoring. Cuba finally put together an 80 yard scoring drive that ended in a 35 yard run by Franco Sandoval. It was now 41-6 with 14 seconds left in the half as Raton took a knee and headed for the locker room.
With many of the JV players on the field Raton began the third period by turning the ball over on downs and would allow Cuba to move the ball. It was a 15-yard pass play to Francisco Salaz that put six more up for Cuba. They followed it up with a 2-point conversion to make it a 41-14 ball game.
In the fourth quarter Raton once again took the gloves off and took a 30-yard pass play from Dustin Segura to Jonathan Cabriales for six more to start the fourth quarter of play. Cuba turned the ball over on downs and this time Cabriales scampered 40 yards for six more. The PAT was good and it was a 55-14 ball game.
With the Raton JV squad on the field the defense once again came alive and held strong. Dante Romero playing a great game grabbed another Cuba pass out of the air and gave the JV offense time to get their feet wet before the clock ended the game.
The Raton Tigers will travel to Questa for the first of three road trips before returning to the jungle on October 21 against Texico.
