Tigers Slice Up Rattlers for Win
By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Another beautiful evening in the Jungle as Raton hosted the Tucumcari Rattlers Friday night (9-14-18) with Raton taking the early lead on a turnover and never looking back as Raton held Tucumcari scoreless until late in the game on their way to a 35-14 win.
Ismael Tafoya ended the first Tucumcari series when he stepped in front of an Alijah Jimenez pass and took the ball to the Raton 32. Raton moved the ball easily down the field with the help of a pass interference call and an offside penalty. The series ended when Aden Vanderwater scrambled the remaining seven yards to pay dirt for six. Vanderwater’s PAT was good and it was a 7-0 game with at 9:35 on the first quarter clock. The score would be the first of five Vanderwater rushing TD’s on the night as the Raton offensive line gave the Tiger signal caller open lanes all night.
Raton’s defense would come up big on the next series as Tucumcari put together an 18 play 76-yard drive only to end it on the one-foot line where they handed it over to Raton on downs. As the teams switched sides for the second quarter it was Vanderwater who would scamper 88 yards for another Raton score followed by the PAT making it a 14-0 ball game at 11:43 in the second quarter.
This time it was Vanderwater intercepting a Jimenez pass after Tucumcari put together a good five play series that started on the Raton 30-yard line after Seth Martinez took the kickoff 55 yards. Raton only went backwards though, and was forced to punt the ball away, but would get it back two plays later when Vanderwater once again intercepted a Jimenez pass. A 17-yard pass play to Ismael Tafoya sparked the Tigers into action. Four plays later Vanderwater once again tucked the ball away and dashed 37 yards for six. The PAT split the uprights and it was a 21-0 game at 3:38 on the second quarter clock.
Once again Seth Martinez managed to get behind the Tiger kickoff team and took the ball out to the 47. However, it was Matthew Quartieri who picked off a Jimenez pass two plays later to give Raton the ball on the Raton 35. Richie Acevedo found the holes and scampered 40 yards to get the Tigers inside the red zone. An offside penalty took the ball half the distance to the goal at the three. From there it was an easy romp to pay dirt for Vanderwater. He added the extra point and it was 28-0 game with 23 seconds left on the first half clock.
Third Quarter action saw Raton falter after a 10 play series that turned the ball over on downs at the Tucucmari 21. From there Tucumcari drove the ball 79 yards in 14 plays for six and their first score of the game. The PAT was good and it was a 28-7 game with 28 seconds left in the third quarter.
Raton took the ball into the fourth quarter and culminated the drive with a 10-yard run by who else, Aden Vanderwater. His PAT was good and it was a 35-7 ball game at 10:36 in the fourth.
Raton gets the ball back on an onside kick off and with the misfortune of a holding penalty and illegal procedure penalty finally had to punt the ball away. Both teams went back and forth until Tucumcari put together a 7-play drive that ended with a 38-yard romp by Rod Dunlap for six, the PAT was good and it was a 35-14 game that Raton finished off with a knee.
Coach Tori Giacomo was pleased with the performance the boys had after a good week of practice. Raton travels to Laguna Acoma Friday night which will be a long bus ride to a team they haven’t seen play yet on video. The coaches are hoping to see some footage this week to see what they will have to do to beat the Hawks. The following week after that will be Homecoming week in Raton with the Tigers hosting Albuquerque Academy on September 28.
Play-by-play action sponsored by the Tiger Roar Sports Club, can be heard on 93.9 FM and on Network1Sports.com.
