In a classic defensive struggle, a turnover late in the third period lead to a Raton breakthrough score and then the Tigers would tack on an insurance score late in the fourth to take a 14 – 0 win at Santa Fe St Michael’s in Saturday’s regular season’s NM high school football finale. With the win, Raton not only rang up a 4 -0 mark in District 2AAA to earn the season championship, but ended the regular season undefeated, and earned the top seed in the upcoming AAA NM State Championships.
A perfect fall afternoon saw the St. Mikes defensive scheme completely disrupting the normally potent Raton offense with blitzes and stunts keying to stop Raton’s running game and Cayden Walton. The game started well for Raton’s offense as Walton’s kickoff return gave Raton the ball on the Horsemen’s side of the 50. Raton converted at 4th and 2 from the 28, but St Mike’s defense stiffened and a 4th and long pass attempt fell incomplete.
The Horsemen took over on their own 30, but Raton’s defense was firing on all cylinders from the beginning of the game, holding St. Mikes to a three and out on their first possession and then recovering a fumble off an attempted quick pitch on their second series. Raton couldn’t take advantage though, as QB Dylan Quartieri scrambled for 6 on fourth down, but again the Tigers turned it over on downs, this time on the Santa Fe 31. The Raton defense though threw another 3 and out to the Horsemen’s offense on the strength of tackles by Anderson Weese, Adrian Romero and a pass defensed by Ahsan Maso.
After the punt and with time winding down in the first half, Raton took over on its own 25. A hold negated a 20 yard Quartieri scramble, so Raton set up in punt formation on a 4th and 6 from their own 43. But, a fake punt, quick snapped to Cayden Walton gave Raton a first down on the Santa Fe 35. The momentum though was quickly squashed and Raton faced a 4th and 17 with just over a minute left in the first half.
The Horsemen took the second half kickoff and marched with purpose into Raton territory. After overcoming a Matt Quartieri sack, the Horsemen went for it on a fourth and 1, but Raton’s defense again dug in and denied the sneak attempt to take over on their own 37.
Raton would only have it for two plays as a tipped ball interception by Santa Fe gave them a first down on their 42. The Horsemen would only have it in their possession for two plays, fumbling away with Raton’s Devon Ramirez recovering at mid-field. A personal foul against Santa Fe and Raton was in business at the St. Mikes 31. Facing a third and long, QB Quartieri would roll out and find Walton who had snuck out of the backfield for a completion to the 10 yard line for a first and goal. Quartieri would adlib a run on a busted play and would get to the two, with Walton scoring on the next play and after the Cole Hopper PAT, Raton had the lead with under two minutes remaining in the third.
Santa Fe took the ensuing kickoff and as the fourth quarter began, Hank Coronado and Anderson Weese tackled the ball carrier for a loss. Santa Fe could not overcome a holding penalty, and was forced to punt with Raton starting on their own 29, Walton gained 11, converted a third and short and then on another third down, St. Mikes was flagged for defensive pass interference. Two plays later, Walton got his second TD of the day from 19 yards out. Raton’s lead was 14-0 with 3:18 to go.
Raton’s defense sealed the game as Cayden Walton intercepted a pass and took it to the 26 where they ran out the clock for their first undefeated season since 1993.
The Tigers received the top seed in the 12 team bracket as the top four seeds; (#2 Socorro, #3 Robertson and #4 St Michaels) will all get first round byes for Nov 6 games, and home games for the weekend of Nov 12,13. Raton and St Mikes are both in the top half of the bracket and so have a chance of meeting again in the semifinals, should they both win in the quarterfinals.
