By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
The 5-0 Socorro Warriors traveled the five hours up I-25 to Raton Friday September 23, for what turned out to be a knock down drag out fight for Raton’s homecoming football game in the Jungle.
Color Commentator Abe Elliot described the game as “penalty, penalty, penalty” with the yellow laundry calling back big plays and even a Raton TD. The scores each team finally made were often a result of penalties, some really big penalties including a 30-yard gain for Socorro on two personal foul penalties that resulted in a TD for the Warriors.
Raton took the opening kickoff and was unable to move the ball very much as Cayden Walton stepped into the quarterback role in place of Jacob Mattorano who was out of the game with an ankle injury. During the six plays Raton had the ball there were three penalties which made it tough resulting in Socorro getting the ball on the 35. 14 plays and two more penalties Brian Armijo pounded the ball in from four yards out for six. Kaden Dow added the Pat for a 7-0 game at 3:34 on the first quarter clock.
Raton answered with their own TD eight plays later and very early in the second quarter with the help of a face mask penalty that moved the ball to the one-yard line. From there Cayden Walton drives through the line to pay dirt and six with 11:51 into the second quarter. An injured Cole Hopper hobbled out and added the PAT for Raton making it a 7-7 game. Hopper suffered a knee injury in the Tucumcari game and not wanting to give it up did the extra-point kicks for Raton.
Socorro goes four and out giving up the ball on downs at the 47. Raton drives inside the 20 but a holding call pulls them back to the 20 and unable to move the ball turns it over on downs at the 15. Socorro then gets a break and Brian Armijo races 81 yards for a Warrior TD. Raton’s Anderson Weese blocks the PAT and leaves the score 13-7.
Three plays later Raton’s Adrian Romero is in the end zone on a 15-yard run with the help of two personal foul penalties, one horse collar and an unsportsman like penalty on the sideline that gave Raton a 30-yard gain placing the ball on the 15. Hopper adds the PAT for a 14-13 Raton lead at 2:37 left in the half.
Socorro puts the ball up on their second play, Wyatt Berry gets a hand on the ball, and it falls into the hands of Anderson Weese who brings the ball back up field and with the help of another horse collar penalty gives Raton the ball on the Raton 47. Raton moves inside the red zone and gets it inside the five but is unable to score before the half ends.
Socorro begins the second half with an 11-play drive that that ends with a nine-yard pass play to Isaiah Ocampo for six. QB Marcus Armijo squeaks through the line for the 2-point conversion making the score 21-14 at 7:00 on the third period clock.
Raton moves the ball penalty free down the field but ends the series when Alex Amaro intercepts a Cayden Walton pass giving Socorro the ball on the Socorro 46. The Warriors move the ball down the field and culminate the nine-play drive with a five-yard run by Marcus Armijo for six. Kaden Dow misses the PAT and leaves the score 27-14 with 34 seconds left in the third quarter.
As the fourth quarter gets underway frustration kicks in with both teams and the yellow flags fly. Raton has a penalty that stifles the drive resulting in Raton punting the ball away. Socorro at their 10-yardline follows up on their next series of downs with a penalty and turns the ball over on a fumble that Cayden Walton picks up and brings back past the 50 however flags fly. Raton retains the ball at the Socorro 40 after offsetting penalties, Raton block in the back and Socorro for a targeting penalty.
Raton starts with a chop block penalty and moves the ball back into Raton territory. Unable to overcome the penalties they turn the ball over on downs at the Socorro 24. The Warriors are held and have to punt the ball away and again penalties stifle the Raton drive. Raton ends the game with the loss as they prepare for district play next week in Santa Fe at Santa Fe Indian School.
