By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
It was a warm, beautiful evening that greeted the boys of fall into the Raton Jungle Friday, October 8 as the undefeated Raton Tigers hosted the 6-1 Robertson Cardinals in what would turn out to be a nail biter of a game all the way down to the last seconds, with Raton prevailing 28 to 26, to gain a share of the lead in District 2AAA standings.
Robertson won the toss and deferred, giving Raton the ball to begin the game. Raton then drove the ball down to the Robertson 21 before giving it up on downs.
Robertson then started their series with a long pass play to Mateo Contreras to the Raton 40. Seven plays later QB Matthew Gonzales rambles eight yards for six and with the PAT made it 7-0 with 2:40 on the first quarter clock. That score was the first time this season that Raton was behind in a ball game.
Raton would answer as Chance Middlebrook gave Raton great field position after a 40 plus yard kickoff return to the Robertson 38. It took Raton just over two minutes and five plays to finish off the drive with a 12-yard romp by Cayden Walton for six made possible by the Raton O-Line who has done a great job all year long to give Walton the holes he needed to make the plays. Cole Hopper’s PAT made it a 7-7 game with only seven seconds left in a fast-moving first quarter.
The Raton cinder block defense held the Cardinals on a 4th and 1 and forced a turnover on downs at the Raton 42. Four plays later, a Raton fumble on the 50 saw Robertson’s Quik Cordova recovered the loose ball on the Robertson 47. Robertson then took advantage of the turnover and overcame a holding penalty, finished the drive with an 14-yard run on fourth down by QB Gonzales that gave Robertson the lead. The PAT was good leaving Robertson up by 14-7 score at 2:32 on the second quarter clock.
As a result of a personal foul penalty, Robertson kicked off from the Raton 45 and Chance Middlebrook returned the ball to the Raton 30. With the first half clock running at under 2 minutes, it only took three plays for the Tigers to score, with a 56 yard lightning-strike from the Quartieri connection, as Matthew Quartieri took a pass over the middle, from Dylan Quartieri, stiff-armed two be tacklers and outraced the defense down the far sideline. Hopper tied the game with a between- the-uprights PAT for a 14-14 game at 1:36 in the second quarter.
Robertson tried to mount a late drive, but Cayden Walton ended the drive when he intercepted a Gonzales pass at the Raton 30.
The second half began with Robertson having to punt it away after a 12-yard loss on a sack by Dylan Quartieri. Walton went back, returned the punt to the 40 and then was the work horse for the six play drive, finishing it off with a 28 yard run to the end zone with 4:46 left on the third period clock. Hopper topped it off with the PAT and left it 21-14.
Robertson however, struck back on a 43 yard pass play on a third and six deep in their own territory and a Raton holding penalty to move the ball down to the six yard line. Gonzales took the ball the remaining six yards for six. However, the PAT went wide and proved to be important, as it left Raton on top 21-20.
After an unsuccessful on-side kick attempt, Raton had good field position at midfield, but another fumble would give Robertson the turnover and the ball at their 16 after a personal foul penalty put them back. The cinder block defense held Robertson and forced them to punt.
The fourth quarter began with Raton starting at their own 45 yard line and the Raton offensive line opening holes for Walton and giving Quartieri enough time to complete a first down pass to Chance Middlebrook on a 3rd and 14. Then on a fourth and seven from the Robertson 13, Walton found a crease in the Cardinals defense to give Raton a first and goal inside the five. The 55 yard drive was capped by Walton’s third TD run and with “Mr Automatic” Cole Hopper’s extra point, Raton held a 28 -20 lead with just under three minutes left in the game after the drive that consumed nine minutes.
Robertson was not done, and aided by a 51 yard pass completion, then returned the favor with a 79 yard drive to pay dirt with Matthew Gonzales finishing it off with a fourth and 14 scramble to reach for the pylon and score with only :07 left. With a 28-26 score, Robertson needs a 2-point conversion to tie the game and send it into overtime. In the shotgun, Gonzales rolled to his right, but his throw was batted down by Chance Middlebrook to leave it 28-26 score.
Raton was flagged for excessive celebration, and the foul allowed Robertson to kickoff from the Raton 45. The onside kick attempt however went out of bounds at the 30 and gave Raton the ball and the game. The win left the Tigers with an 8-0 record, and a tie for the 2AAA District Championship with St. Mikes.
Much credit goes to the Raton offensive line for keeping the defense at bay long enough for Walton to find the holes for yardage and Quartieri the time to make the passing game work. Raton’s defense bent during the game, but didn’t break when it counted.
Raton will host the Santa Fe Indian School Braves on Friday October 15 at 7:00 p.m. in the Jungle for the final home game of the regular season. SFIS lost to St. Mikes 53 – 0 on Friday, October 8.
