By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
The Tigers travelled the pass to take on the Trinidad Miners for the annual Coal Bucket game Friday night September 2, and it didn’t take the Tigers very long to mark the scoreboard in what would be a runaway game in the first half of play.
Four plays into the game Raton’s Cayden Walton took the ball and scampered 37 yards for six with 10:03 on the first period clock. Cole Hopper added the PAT and it was a 7-0 game.
On Trinidad’s second play of the game quarterback Anthony Sandoval pitches out to Jacob Bowman who fumbles the ball and its picked up by Wyatt Berry at the 10-yardline and taken in for six more Tiger points. Hopper adds the PAT and it’s a 14-0 game at 9:05 in the first quarter.
Its four and out for Trinidad’s next series. The punt leaves Raton at the 46 and five plays later Walton scampers 12 yards to pay dirt. A bobbled hike from center forces Hopper to run but doesn’t make the goal line leaving the score 20-0 at 5:09 in the first quarter.
This time it’s a three and out for Trinidad and three plays later It’s a Jacob Mattorano pass to Walton who gains 29 yards. On the next play Mattorano pitches out to Walton who miss handles the ball and it bounces right back up in his hands as he heads up field and scampers 35 yards to pay dirt for another Raton TD. Hopper adds the PAT and it’s a 27-0 game at 1:04 in the first quarter.
Trinidad once again sputters and punts the ball away. On the second play from scrimmage, it’s a Mattorano 35-yard pass play to Wyatt Berry for another Raton six at 9:34 on the second period clock. Hopper adds another PAT for 34-0 score.
On Trinidad’s fourth play Bowman fumbles the ball on the handoff and it’s picked up by Wyatt Berry at the Trinidad 47. Cayden Walton then breaks free and scampers 47 yards for another Raton TD. Hopper makes it 41-0 at 6:52 in the second quarter.
A running clock makes short time of the remainder of the second quarter and sends the boys to the locker room with a 41-0 halftime score and a running clock to continue in the second half of play.
Trinidad manages to hang on to the ball and work their way down the field however they will turn the ball over on downs at the Raton 18. Walton scrambles to the Trinidad 33 but it’s called back on a holding penalty with a net gain of 18 yards. From the Raton 27 Mattorano hits Kaleb Salazar on a screen play and races the 73 yards for six. Hopper adds the PAT for a 48-0 game.
After the third touch back kickoff by Hopper the Miners start at their own 20 and work the ball up the field going into the fourth quarter. The Miner running game makes it to the Raton 40 where Jayden Maxfield breaks wide and races down the Raton sideline for Trinidad’s first score of the evening with 5:15 on the fourth quarter clock. The 2-point conversion by Maxfield is good making it a 48-8 game.
Raton takes the kickoff and runs the clock out on the ground to keep the Coal Bucket in Raton for another year. This is the fifth year the Coal Bucket has remained in Raton. Raton will meet Tucumcari in the jungle on September 9, at 7:00 p.m.
