Capitan Advances As Raton Heads Home With Head Held High

By Marty Mayfield

KRTN Multi-Media

 

Despite the injuries the Raton Tigers played their final game of the 2016 football season with heart and determination against the second seed Capitan Tigers in Capitan Saturday afternoon November 19th. The Raton edition of the Tigers clawed at Capitan all afternoon, before the offensive talent of Price Bowen and company prevailed for a 36-0 victory.

Coach Tory Giacomo said he was very proud of his team making it into the quarterfinals in class 3A football after two losing seasons, noting that the team which is made up of several juniors, was coming into their own style of play and making noise in class 3A football.

Raton began the game kicking off to Capitan who was stunned by the sharp hitting of the Raton defense and couldn’t get things to gel the first series and was forced to punt it away. The Capitan defense was pushed around in the interior line for much of the afternoon, but did not break however and held Raton to six plays before Raton had to punt.

Only two series into the game penalties began to play a role in the game and how the offenses moved the ball. Capitan began the next series with three penalties in a row and were forced to punt again. Raton was also bitten by the penalty bug and had two in their next series that finally ended with a punt. Capitan took over the ball and finally were able to make things click and ended a 65 yard 11 play drive with a one-yard run by Stephen Ellison the PAT failed and left the score 6-0 with 11:35 left in the second quarter.

Raton again fell prey to its own excitement, committing a couple of procedure penalties in this series before having to punt the ball away. Capitan took the punt to the 41-yardline where they again pounded the ball down the field against a stout Raton defense finally arriving at the one where Price Bowen bounced it in for six. Capitan scored the 2-point try making it 14-0 with 5:50 left in the second quarter.

The game continued to be played between the 20 yard lines with both defenses holding their ground until half time. Raton moved to the south end zone to lick their wounds having lost Anthony Saenz and Ismael Tafoya to injury. Jonathan Cabriales played for a while on defense but finally was forced out due to his elbow injury suffered in last week’s game with Newcomb.

Second half action continued with Raton filling positions and doing the best they could despite the injuries sustained in the first half. Their first series of plays took them to the 25-yardline where they turned the ball over to Capitan on downs.

Capitan then took control of the ball game and began to more easily move the ball against the younger less experienced Raton defense. The drive was capped off with a 17-yard pass play to Bronson Leach and followed by a Price Bowen extra point for a 21-0 game.

Raton then went three and out with a very short punt giving Capitan great field position that ended with a 19-yard pass play to Jacob Smith for six. Bowen added the PAT and left the score 28-0. Another three and out for Raton and a short punt once again allowed Capitan to move the ball in quickly and add six more to the board.

Raton managed to hold on to the ball a little longer this series as they moved into the fourth quarter where a pass interference call moved them closer to the goal line. However, penalties once again forced Raton to give up the ball on downs. Capitan put one up and Richie Acevedo found the handle on it and gave it back to Raton. Raton was unable to move the ball and was forced to punt.

Four plays later Capitan was once again threatening when Garrison Weams fumbled and Raton recovered on the 10-yardline.  Capitan however still came out with the score when a high snap went out of the end of the end zone for a safety leaving the score 36-0 with 3:47 left in the game.

Raton once again struck and forced a fumble that was picked up by Dante Romero. Raton ended the short series with a pass interception by Jacob Smith who took the ball down field and after a facemask penalty the ball ended up at the Raton 35. One run and three knees later the final buzzer blew and ended the Raton Tiger 2016 football season.

Coach Tory Giacomo is already looking forward to next year with a good group of seasoned next year seniors to lead the team.

Interview with Coach Tory Giacomo