By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Down the road they went, Walton and blocking crew, to take on the Robertson Cardinals in Las Vegas Friday night October 21, for the final game of the regular season for Raton before taking a bye week to recuperate and regroup for state tourney play. Robertson’s offense was completely stymied by the Raton defense except for two long kick returns for TDs as Robertson took a hard-fought 12 – 7 victory.
Going into the game if Raton can beat Robertson by nine or more points Raton could take the district title and could give Raton a great seed into the state playoffs. Cayden Walton went into the game with 2660 yards of total yardage and is third in the nation. Robertson coaches scouted Raton last week during the St Mikes game. The big question now is what will Robertson do to shut down the Raton offense and Cayden Walton?
Raton took the opening kickoff and the bad news struck quickly with a block in the back penalty that moved the ball back to the seven followed by another penalty taking the ball back to the three. Cayden Walton gets the call but is unable to move the ball and Raton is forced to punt.
Robertson takes the punt at the Raton 34-yard line. Robertson pounds the ball down the field moving inside the red zone to the Raton 12. The Raton defense held strong with a sack and a missed field goal turns it over the Raton offense at the Robertson 20.
Raton begins the series with a pass play to Adrian Romero and 23 yards. Robertson’s defense holds tough and forces Raton to punt and blocks it giving Robertson the ball at the 35. A holding penalty sends the Robertson back to the 40-yard line with a third and 24. Raton takes the punt from the 25 to past the 50 but a penalty moves Raton back to the Raton 40. A long pass to WD Hyer takes Raton down into the red zone at the 10. Three plays later from the three Cayden Walton pounds the ball in for six. Hopper adds the PAT at 9:38 on the second quarter clock for a 7-0 Raton lead.
Robertson’s Martin Vigil takes the Raton kickoff 80-yards for six. Raton blocks the Aaron Doss PAT leaving Raton on top 7-6. Raton starts at the 20, Walton takes the ball 80 yards for six only to be called back on a holding penalty moving Raton back to the 10. Adrian Romero gets a 20-yard pass play to the 30. The Robertson defense holds forcing Raton to punt giving Robertson the ball at the Robertson 14.
Cayden Walton ends the Robertson drive with a pass interception at the Cardinal 47. Raton can only get a yard and is forced to punt, that goes to the Robertson 15. Three and out Cayden Walton takes the punt 31 yards down to the Robertson 11 with 1:11 on the first half clock. Unable to move it into the end zone Hopper attempts a field goal but a high snap complicates that attempt and Hopper misses leaving it 7-6 Raton.
Robertson takes the third quarter kickoff 75 yards for six. Robertson tried a 2-point conversion by QB Kenneth Montoya which is stopped cold by the Raton defense leaving the Cardinals on top 12-7. Wyatt Berry returns the kickoff to the Raton 43. Another bad call on a pass play forces Raton to punt. Robertson takes over the ball at their six after the punt. They do a three and out and are forced to punt after a penalty sends them back to the 15. The Punt falls short in Robertson territory.
Raton however turns the ball over on a fumble to Robertson on the Raton 40. Robertson moves the ball into Raton territory, but a holding penalty brings a long pass play back and forces the Cardinals to punt. A fake punt turned pass play goes incomplete and turns the ball over to Raton on the Raton 45.
Raton’s Cayden Walton goes 21 yards to get the ball into Robertson territory to the 40. Raton takes the ball into the fourth quarter and turns the ball over on downs at the Robertson 40.
Robertson moves the ball on the ground into the Raton side of the field. Mistakes, however, move Robertson back over the 50. With 4th and 14 Robertson punts the ball away with a touchback to give Raton the ball on the 20.
With the help of a targeting penalty and a 21-yard pass play the ball goes to the Robertson 35 with 4:45 on the clock. A Raton holding penalty adds yards to the process and moves it to the 48 then they add another five with a false start penalty leaving it a 1st and 29. Tough defensive play by Robertson forces Raton to punt. A long punt gives Robertson the ball on the Robertson nine.
The Cardinals run into the Raton defense and are forced to punt giving Raton the ball at the 35. On the next play Mattorano throws a pass interception giving Robertson at the 43-yard line after a penalty. Raton out of timeouts allows Robertson to let the clock run. Keeping it on the ground the clock runs out on this district game.
Robertson’s only scores came on kickoff returns, while their offense was dominated by the Raton defense. Raton once again suffered from the yellow flag syndrome to keep Raton out of the end zone. Raton will have next week off and wait for the standings after the last games next week to see how the state tourney brackets fall in place.
