By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Raton Tigers hosted the Tucumcari Rattlers for the final district game of the regular season Friday evening November 4th, with a berth in the state playoffs going to the winner of the game as both teams came into the game with a 1-2 record in District 5 3A play.
Once the game got underway the Tigers simply dominated the field, holding Tucumcari to a short first series before beginning the scoring with an 86 yard 15 play drive that ended with a three yard romp by Jonathan Cabriales for six. His PAT was good making it a 7-0 ball game with 1:15 left on the first quarter clock.
Tucumcari started the second quarter of action with a punt that setup another Raton scoring drive from the Tucumcari 40. Despite penalties, it only took Raton five plays to put the ball in the end zone with a 19 yard run from Cabriales. The 2-point try failed and left the score 13-0.
Raton held Tucumcari once again, but the resulting punt put Raton at their own 16. Ismael Tafoya however made it look easy with a 40 yard romp to setup a 19 yard run by Tristen Gallegos a couple of plays later. Dustin Segura ran it in for the 2-point try and made it a 21-0 ball game at 3:22 in the first half.
A fumble on the ensuing kickoff allowed Raton to take over on the 47 and put together another five play drive ending with a nine yard run from Segura. Cabriales PAT was good for a 28-0 lead at 1:09 left in the half.
Third quarter action began with Raton receiving the ball on the kickoff but were unable to make things work for the score and had to punt it away where Tucumcari took over on the one yard-line. One play later Raton pulled off a safety to make it a 30-0 ball game.
Raton struggled with penalties on the next drive and had to punt it away, but three plays later recovered a fumble at the Tucumcari 25. Cabriales took it in from there and added his PAT to make it a 37-0 game with 6:25 left in the third.
Tucumcari unable to move the ball fumbled on the fourth down play and Rafael Maso scooped it up and ran about 70 yards for six. The PAT failed and it was a 43-0 game.
Tucumcari fumbled once again on the kickoff and four plays later Gabe Martinez scrambles 22 yards for six and the PAT by Cabriales puts the ribbon on the game with a 50-0 mercy-rule win at 11:52 on the fourth quarter clock.
Coach Tory Giacomo told KRTN after the game that he was very pleased with how the Raton offensive line played feeling they are now coming together to play like a winning team. The team will now prepare for a first round state game here in Raton next Saturday.
