By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Raton traveled into the Yellowjacket hive Friday evening, October 7th and came home with a 49-0 shutout over Clayton as the Raton defense simply dominated the Clayton offense by shutting them down and creating turnovers to convert to scores.
Raton’s Ismael Tafoya intercepted a Marcos Rael pass on Clayton’s first series, and took the ball to the Clayton six-yard line to setup a Gabe Martinez run to pay-dirt for six. Jonathan Cabriales adds the extra point for a 7-0 game.
On Clayton’s next series, the Tigers force a fumble. Rafael Maso comes up with the ball at the Clayton 15-yardline where Dustin Segura takes it to the three and Jonathan Cabriales finishes it off with a run for six and tacks on the PAT for a 14-0 game with 7:17 still on the first quarter clock.
Clayton starts at the 20 after Cabriales sends the kickoff sailing into the end zone for a touchback. Clayton is finally able to mount a drive that takes the ball to the Raton three-yard line where the Raton defense slams on the brakes and forces a turnover on downs. Two plays later Jonathan Cabriales dashes 93 yards for six and to end the quarter. Cabriales tacks on the PAT leaving Raton up 21-0 to start the second quarter.
Cabriales picks off a Clayton pass to stop their next series and sets up Raton at the 50. Raton drives the ball to the six where its once again a Dustin Segura to Jonathan Cabriales combo for a TD. Cabriales tacks on the PAT and it’s a 28-0 game.
Clayton goes three and out and is forced to punt it away where Raton has a hands to the face penalty to negate a 40 plus yard punt return by Cabriales. Have no fear, the Raton offense works its magic and Ismael Tafoya takes a Segura pass 44 yards to pay dirt for six. Cabriales splits the uprights for a 35-0 Raton lead with 24 seconds left in the half.
To begin the third quarter, Clayton tries an onside kick but fails to get it to go the required 10 yards and puts Raton on the Clayton 41-yard line to start off third quarter play. The Raton offense goes to work and moves the ball down field to setup a 23-yard run by Dustin Segura for another Raton score. Cabriales misses the PAT and leaves the score at 41-0 and begins the running clock.
Clayton ends their next series with a punt and a couple of missed passes ends Raton’s series on downs. The evenings events have begun to wear on the Yellowjackets and the mistakes continue with an unsportsman like penalty and a sack to set Clayton back up field where they are forced to turn the ball over on downs at the 48.
Raton sets off to work with a 12-yard loss but Dustin Segura makes that up and then some. A 15-yard face mask penalty offsets a sack and sets up a 43-yard pass play from Segura to Cabriales for the final TD of the game for Raton. Raton completes the scoring with a 2-point pass play from Segura to Tristan Gallegos for a 49-0 score.
Raton had suffered major losses to Clayton over the last three years and the boys celebrated the victory and are now looking forward to next Friday’s match up with Santa Rosa in Santa Rosa. Coach Tori Giacomo was very pleased with the efforts the boys put out Friday and is looking forward to going south and taking on the Lions.
Interview with Coach Tori Giacomo after the game.
