The Raton Tigers were 6 – 0 and the West Las Vegas Dons were 5-0 as the two 2AAA football teams collided for their first district matchup Friday night, October 1 at West Vegas. After the dust had settled, Raton’s defense stymied the prolific West offense and, even though the normally potent Raton offense was its own worst enemy, it rode the back of its veteran offensive line and the legs of running back Cayden Walton for a 14-7 Raton victory.
No one could remember the last time, or if there was even a last time, both teams would be undefeated for a mid-season district game. Raton received the opening kick-off and was flagged right away and had to start on its own 10 yard line. After an eight yard Walton gain, Vegas was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct and Raton would get near midfield, but would have to punt. The Tigers punted, but the ground game ground down the clock using up 8 minutes and keeping the ball away from the Dons high-octane offense.
The Dons first series started at their own 20 and did get a first down, but Matt Quartieri, a member of Raton’s linebacking corps, stopped QB DJ Herrera on a 3rd and 4, and Raton took over on its own 42.
A long incompletion to Zach Lose, was followed by a heavy dose of Cayden Walton running and after getting West’s defense to jump offsides on a 3rd and 3 from the 11, Raton had a first and goal with only seconds remaining in the first quarter.
Starting the 2nd quarter, Raton had a 3rd and goal from the 4, but Raton’s offense committed an off-sides and lost yardage on a midscreen, followed by a Raton 31 yard field goal attempt went wide right.
Raton’s offense was gifted the ball as the defense dealt a three and out to West and then was able to block the attempted punt . The offense wasted no time in making the Dons pay by giving it to Cayden Walton for the 10 yard score and after the Cole Hopper PAT, Raton had a 7-0 lead with 8:56 left in the half.
The Dons tried to answer taking over after the kickoff on their own 20. Jalen Vigil got a 38 yard reception, but two consecutive penalties forced them to punt, and Raton’s Isaih Garcia penetrated and blocked the punt for the second consecutive time. Raton couldn’t capitalize this time though , as on 3rd and nine the ball was intercepted by West to give them the ball back on the 48.
Thanks to a little trickery, a double pass gave West a first and ten on the Raton 27, but Raton’s Abe Alvarado and Hank Coronado teamed up on a sack, and then a fourth and long attempt was broken up by Cayden Walton to essentially end the first half.
The second half began with Raton trying an unsuccessful on-side kick, giving West good field position on the 49. West would tie the game during the drive with the help of a roughing the passer penalty and then out of the Wild Cat formation Dominic Gallegos would punch it in on an 18 yeard run and with the PAT ties it 7-7 with 9:59 left in the third.
The momentum shifted to the home team as their defense served up a rare three and out for the Raton offense. Raton’s defense returned the favor, though, but the going was tough as Raton did grind out a first down but had to punt with just over 5 minutes left in the third. Hopper drilled a long punt and Chance Middlebrook got downfield quickly to pin West on their own 8 yard line and then Raton’s D held the Dons offense again and made them punt. Raton had great field position and after a Walton gain of 15 on a quick pitch, Raton fumbled on first down to give it back to West. However, to begin the fourth quarter Chance Middlebrook blitzed and forced another West punt.
Raton’s first possession in the fourth would prove to be the game winner. Starting at their own 35, it was Walton left, Walton right, Walton up the middle as the Raton offensive line dug in and Dylan Quartieri guided two third down conversions and at the end of a 13 play, 65 yard drive, a quick pitch to Walton for a 5 yard clinching TD with 3:10 to go.
West got a shot to tie with under 3 minutes to go, but a couple of penalties and then a sack by Abe Alvarado and Matt Quartieri made it 4th and 30. Raton took over with 1:29 left and sat on the ball for the all-important district victory.
Raton comes back home next Friday, October 8 for another District 2AAA matchup against Las Vegas Robertson at 7 pm.
