By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
The Raton Tigers took to the road Friday night August 23, for their season opener against the Class 4A Bloomfield Bobcats who met the Tigers at a neutral site in Santa Fe, on the Santa Fe Indian School field.The Bobcats took advantage of Raton miscues and with their high-powered offense went on to a 56-14 win over Raton.
Raton begins the season with 12 seniors this year backed up by 21 underclassmen to fill out the roster. Dylan Quartieri started the game at quarterback for Raton, only a sophomore, but he stands at 6’1” and can easily see over the offensive line. Cayden Walton a freshman took the backfield spot after an impressive year as an 8thgrader last year.
Raton kicks off and holds the Bobcats to a four and out on the first series. Raton then puts the ball in the hands of Cayden Walton who drives his way down the field and does a 21-yard run. Walton again pounds the ground for good yardage and gets Raton to the 3-yardline. Then, Quartieri finished it off with the option run and he crosses the goal line to put Raton on the board first. Jesus Alvarado makes the PAT good and it’s a 7-0 game.
The Bobcats however aren’t to be outdone. The Bobcats take advantage of a bad punt snap on 4thand deep and put six on the scoreboard. The PAT is good and it’s a 7-7 game at 5:35 in the first.
Chance Middlebrook takes the Kickoff out to the 43-yardline. Raton fumbles the ball and the Bobcats take the ball down the field where JT Sietzinger catches the pass for another Bobcat TD. The PAT is good making it a 14-7 with 2:30 in the first quarter. Another miscue gives the Bobcats the ball where they get a 29-yard pass to Raymundo Alcantar for six. The PAT is good making it a 21-7 game with 30 seconds left in the first quarter.
Raton takes the ball into the second quarter but a fumble ends the drive and 27-yard pass from Vincent Marquez to Bryce Perez gives Bloomfield another six. A bad snap on the PAT yields a 2-point conversion to make it a 29-7 game.
Raton again heads down the field with good gains only to have the ball ripped from Cayden Walton. The Bobcats take advantage of the miscue and get the ball down to the 11-yardline where a pass ends in the endzone for six more. However, an unsportsman like penalty is given to Bloomfield and it was assessed on the kickoff. The PAT was no good leaving the score at 35-7.
Chance Middlebrook takes the kickoff and scrambles down the field to the Bobcat 43. A pass interference puts the ball on the Bobcat 22. An unsportsman like penalty puts Raton in the RedZone and Walton finally pounds the ball through the goal line for six. Jesus Alvarado makes good on the PAT and leaves the score at 35-14.
The Bobcats take the ball down the field and on a 27-yard pass to Noah Gurule followed by another 34-yard pass to the 4-yardline. Isaac Armenta takes a 4-yard pass for a Bobcat TD. The Ayden Reinhardt PAT is good and with 1:42 left in the second quarter it’s a 42-14 game.
Walton takes a screen pass to the 37-yard line with 41 seconds left. Raton puts two in the air that fall to the turf. Matthew Quartieri takes the next pass down to the 11-yardline on a 27-yard pass. A bad snap however, ends the drive and gives the Bobcats the ball and a way to end the half.
The second half of the game begins with Raton taking the touchback at the 20-yardline. Raton then goes three and out with the punt only going to the 46.
Bloomfield then does a 64-yard run by Kenyon Mosley for six. The PAT is good and it’s a 49-14 at 9:58 in the third.
Raton takes the kick to the 33-yardline to begin their second series of the third quarter. Raton goes three and out with the Bobcats taking over at their 40-yard line.
The Bobcats put the ball in the air on the third play and Drew Long finds the strings and hauls it in for the turnover and good field position for Raton at the Bobcat 48. Coach Tory Giacomo uses his options and moves Walton to the QB position for the play only to move it for 5-yards. On the screen play to Dre Nash Raton moves it down the field. A 24-yard pass takes it down to the 20-yardline to end the quarter.
The fourth quarter starts with Raton threatening only to have the ball intercepted by Mosley on the second play of the quarter who then takes the ball all the way for six. The PAT is good and it’s a 56-14 game.
Raton then goes backwards with a miscue and a mishandled snap by new quarterback Jesse Kelley. The punt goes out of bounds at the 50 giving the Bobcats good field position. Raymundo Alcantar takes the reins and has a false start to begin the series. Another penalty moves Bloomfield down the field to the 35.
Raton holds the Bobcats and takes over on downs at the Bobcat 25. Raton goes three and out punting it away to the Bobcats who carry it down the their 45.
The Bobcats run the ball to run the clock down and end it with a run to finish off the game at 56-14.
