By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Raton topped off homecoming week with a 36-12 win in the Jungle Friday night, September 20, hosting the Escalante Lobos who brought a 2-2 record into the game.
Raton also brought a 2-2 record into the game after wrangling the Tucumcari Rattlers with a 41-0-win last week. Freshman Cayden Walton who rushed for 264 yards in the game broke a long-standing Raton School’s single game rushing record held by Chris Madrid with 222 yards against the Robertson Cardinals back in 1991. Walton now holds first place in rushing yards in Class AAA. Sophomore Dylan Quartieri sits in second place in passing yards with 490-yards behind Senior John Balizan of West Las Vegas who has 919 passing yards and who Raton will battle on October 4 in Las Vegas.
Walton raced for two long yardage TDs Friday night that were brought back on penalties. Coach Tory Giacomo while pleased with the win noted that Raton has to work on not making those big mistakes.
Raton started the game with a fumble that was recovered by Raton on their first play Friday night which was followed up by a 37-yard romp by Walton. Another fumble and a procedure penalty cost Raton 10 yards. But that didn’t hold them back as Walton rambled for another 14 yards and would finish off the drive with a 3-yard romp to pay dirt with 9:52 left in the first quarter. Jesse Alvarado added one for a 7-0 score.
Escalante went three and out for their first series and had to punt it away leaving Raton on their 28. Six plays later Walton scrambles for 55 yards and another Raton score. Alvarado ices the cake splitting the uprights for a 14-0 game at 4:02 in the first quarter.
Escalante’s Dante Salazar returns the favor with an 87-yard race to pay dirt on their second play of the drive. The 2-point conversion failed leaving it a 14-6 game with 2:56 on the first quarter clock.
Escalante with two offside penalties on the kickoff left Raton with good field position but a fumble on the second play gave the ball back to Escalante who took the ball into the second quarter only to be forced to turn over the ball on downs at the Raton 25.
It was the Quartieri brothers, Dylan throwing to Matthew for a 75-yard pass play that gave Raton another six. A mishandled snap on the PAT resulted in a Jesse Kelly pass to Matthew Quartieri for the 2-point conversion leaving Raton on top 22-6.
Escalante returned the yardage as Dante Salazar once again outran the Raton defense for 80 yards and six more Lobo points. The 2-point try failed and left the score 22-12 at 9:28 on the second quarter clock.
Raton then took just over three and half minutes to run 10 plays and go 67 yards despite a 10-yard holding penalty for six more. It was Vernon Edwards pounding across the goal line from 2-yards out for the score. Alavarado added another point for a 29-12 score.
Escalante would go four and out on the next drive punting the ball away and Raton taking over on the 32. This time Raton took another 10 plays to go the distance and culminate the drive with a 5-yard run by Walton for six more Raton points. Alavarado once again split the uprights for a 36-12 score at 45 seconds left in the first half. Escalante quarterback Brendon Giles took a knee to end the half.
Escalante managed to burn time on the clock in the second half and threaten only to have the drive end with a pass interception by Chance Middlebrook in the endzone who managed to bring the ball out to the Raton nine-yard line. Raton however, would go three and out with Alvarado punting the ball out to the Escalante 40.
The yellow flags began to fly as each team would be plagued by penalties. Escalante turned the ball over on downs at the Raton 14. Raton turned the ball over once again with a fumble at the 15, however Escalante couldn’t get past the penalties and turned the ball over on downs at the 11.
An 89-yard romp by Walton gets called back on a block in the back penalty but still managed to gain 22 yards on the penalty. Gilbert Martinez intercepted a pass that ended the Raton drive and seven plays later Chance Middlebrook would end the Escalante drive with his own pass interception giving Raton the ball on the 31.
Raton would struggle and finally run the clock out to end a successful homecoming game. Raton will travel to La Junta on Thursday night and play on artificial turf which coach Tory Giacomo noted wouldn’t be a problem even though Raton plays on natural turf at home.
