The Raton Tiger football team took another long road trip on Saturday, September 30 to Albuquerque Academy and came back with a 35 – 20 victory to push their season record to 5-1.
After the Raton defense stopped the Chargers on their first possession, Raton got on the board quickly with a completion to Gabe Martinez that covered 47 yards and after the Aden Vanderwater extra point, Raton led 7 – 0.
The Chargers countered with a scoring drive of their own, using a combination of the single-wing and other sets. After the TD, Raton blocked the extra point attempt and it was a one point game in the first quarter.
The rest of the first half belonged to Raton as QB Dustin Segura engineered two more scoring drives. The first capped off by a one yard TD run by Richie Acevedo and the other after a fumble recovery by Gabe Martinez, led to a 22 yard scoring pass to Nathaniel Tarbox had Raton leading 21-6 at the half.
The second half momentum shifted to Academy as they began the third with a 7 play drive and a five yard run for a TD. After a two-point conversion it was a 21 -14 game and then two plays later Raton fumbled and the Academy run game took them to a first and goal, but Raton’s defense stiffened and Academy missed a field goal. Raton took over deep in its own territory and QB Segura was perfect, going five-for-five with the last completion a five yard TD to Tristan Gallegos. Raton led 28 -14.
Raton’s defense stopped Academy again and Segura completed a 38 yard pass to Aden Vanderwater, followed by a Tristan Gallegos five yard scamper and Raton looked like a runaway winner leading 35-14.
Academy found late life and with four minutes left went on a 12 play drive, but fumbled inside the one. With less than a minute left, Raton fumbled on its first play and Academy went in for the score to make it 35-20. The Chargers recovered the onside kick, but ran out of time.
Raton will play its third straight road game as it starts district play at Tucumcari on Friday, October 6. The game will be broadcsst on KRTN FM 93.9 and streamed on Network1Sports.com.
