By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Our Raton Tigers took to the road this Friday finding their way down to Laguna Acoma High School located out in the middle of not much between Albuquerque and Grants just south of I-40.
Raton began the game minus several players with injuries notably Ismael Tafoya and Matthew Quartieri who are a big part of not only the offense but the defensive side as well. Tafoya is one of Aden Vanderwater’s key receiver. Another missing player is Robert Horner a key player on the Raton line.
Raton took the opening kickoff to the Raton 30 made good yardage with a Vanderwater run and it was extended by a 5-yard face mask penalty followed by a Richie Acevedo 15-yard run and a 17-yard run. A holding penalty brought the ball back 10 yards. Acevedo with another good run takes the ball inside the red zone and a facemask penalty takes the ball inside the five. Acevedo ties the ribbon on this 11 play 70-yard drive with a 1-yard romp for six. Vanderwater’s PAT was blocked and left the score at 6-0.
The Hawks take the kick off out to the 32-yardline and do a three and out. The punt and holding penalty take the Tigers back to the Raton 10. Raton struggled moving the ball with a couple of penalties and incomplete passes. Acevedo changed that by taking a screen pass 45 yards only to lose 10-yards on a holding penalty. Freshman Skyler Smith steps up and carries a couple of runs for 20. Isaiah Samora then takes a screen pass for 21 yards to pay dirt for six. The Tigers lineup for a 2-point and Smith falls just short of the goal line and leaves it 12-0 at 35 seconds on the first quarter clock. The Raton drive went 15 plays and 82 yards.
The Hawks fumble the ball on the kickoff but the ball was whistled dead at the 47-yard line. The Hawks however blow a good drive with a fumble by Jacob Garcia at the Raton 29. Vanderwater does the QB keeper on 3rd and four and out runs the defense for a 62-yard romp for six. The 2-point conversion was good leaving the score at 20-0 on the 6 play 71-yard drive.
Laguna starts the drive at the 19 on a good open field Raton tackle by Skylar Smith. The Hawks go four and out with a punt and its block giving Raton the ball at the Laguna 3-yardline. Raton’s Richie Acevedo takes it in for six more. Vanderwater’s PAT makes it 27-0 with just over five minutes left on the first half clock.
Laguna goes 20 yards and fumbles with Raton’s Skylar Smith recovering the ball at the Hawks 40. A run and facemask penalty take it to the Laguna 20. Smith then scrambles the 20 yards for six. Vanderwater’s PAT is good and it’s a 34-0 ball game at 2:28 left in the half.
Laguna ends the half just inside the 50 at the Raton 46.
Laguna Acoma starts the second half at their 30-yard line and move the ball down the field on a run and a 25-yard pass play to Lyle Bahe who normally plays quarterback followed by a roughing the passer penalty to get the Hawks down to the Raton 25. Moving inside the Raton 20 the Hawks continue to battle and are faced with a 4thand three at the Raton 8-yard line. Raton disrupts the pass play and the Hawks turn it over on downs.
Raton struggles with moving the ball moving forward then backwards with penalties including an 84-yard TD run by Vanderwater that is called back on offsetting penalties. Acevedo does a 22-yard run only to move back five on a procedure call. Vanderwater then makes a 58-yard scamper for six. His PAT splits the uprights and it’s a 41-0 game at 3:14 in the third. Raton’s drive is 92 yards in nine plays.
The onside kick is unsuccessful and leaves Laguna with great field position at the Raton 37-yard line. Laguna does a four and out giving Raton the ball on their 34. Giving some of the JV players some playing time Raton goes four and out giving Laguna the ball at the Raton 49.
With a running clock Laguna starts a drive on the ground that goes to the air with a 25-yard pass to Jacob Garcia and finish it off with a 22-yard pass play to Judas Poncho. The 2-point try fails as Garcia is stopped just short of the goal line for a 41-6 game.
An unsportsman like call on Raton puts the touchback kickoff at the Raton 10-yard line. Skylar Smith then scampers 87 yards and is caught from behind and brought down at the three. A Laguna Acoma personal foul penalty puts the ball at the 1-yard line. Two running attempts are stopped by the Hawk defense and a delay of game penalty ends the game at the six as the running clock runs out on this game. Final score is 41-6 leaving Raton at 3-2 on the season.
Next week its Albuquerque Academy for homecoming football Friday night in the Jungle with the girls playing volleyball against Tucumcari on Thursday afternoon.
