By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
On the Road to Tucumcari for Raton High Football to begin the 2023 high school football season on a Thursday night August 17, 2023 where they will meet up with the Eunice Cardinals. That’s right, Thursday night football to open the season because of a referee shortage in New Mexico.
Raton will spend a lot of time on the road this year as they will travel for six games while hosting only four home games. The next out of town game is in Guymon Oklahoma followed by the coal bucket game in Raton.
Raton begins the year with eight seniors on a roster of 29 players. The big question is how well will the team fair without their star running back Cayden Walton or kicker Cole Hopper. The team will still take the field with two Walton brothers playing, Cannon, a junior and Cael, a freshman. Senior Jacob Mattorano will lead the team at quarterback.
Raton began the game taking the kickoff to the 44 and got a freeze play on the first play to gain five. Raton’s Cannon Walton took over the running duties for the Tigers this year getting the first, first down on the series. Running and passing took the Tigers 52 yards to the four-yard line. Cannon Walton from the one puts it in for six followed by a WD Hyer extra point for a 7-0 game at 7:49 on the first period clock.
Eunice takes the kickoff up to the 43-yard line to begin their first series of the game. The Cardinals begin the series in the air and after a first and three incomplete passes are forced to punt the ball away. Cannon Walton takes the punt and loses the ball at the Raton 21 to turn the ball back over to the Cardinals. Eunice can only manage to get eight yards after a penalty and leaves them with a fourth and two and they turn over the ball to Raton at the 14.
Raton passes out of the hole to Wyatt Berry who makes it out to the 30. After a holding penalty Raton was unable to move the ball and was forced to punt the ball away. WD Hyer had a short punt leaving Eunice with great field position on the Raton 36.
Eunice makes things work and moves the ball down the field. The Tiger’s defense however, made it difficult to make it into the red zone holding the Cardinals and turning the ball over on downs at the 21 with 43 seconds left in the first period.
Raton took the ball into the second quarter at the 24. A pass to Wyatt Berry takes the ball 41 yards into Cardinal territory. A holding penalty brings the ball back to make it a second and 20 followed by a fumble that turns the ball over to Eunice. Two penalties moved Eunice back and the next pass play was intercepted by Wyatt Berry at the 21.
Raton starts the series out on the ground then takes to the air to move the ball down the field. Raton however began to make those early season mistakes and is forced to punt the ball. A short kick takes a Tiger bounce and goes to the Cardinal 36.
Eunice keeps the ball on the ground for this series. Penalties however plague the Cardinals and create long yardage which forces the Cardinals into the air and on fourth and long Elijah Melancon puts it up only to be batted down and gives Raton the ball on the 46.
Luis Gomez intercepts the Jacob Mattorano pass, and a face mask penalty moves the ball to the 48 where Eunice takes over. The Raton defense stiffens up and holds Eunice to force a turnover on downs giving Raton the ball on the 49.
Mattorano throws another interception but manages to run down the Cardinal player at the Raton 16. A Melancon pass puts Eunice at the five and completes the drive with a five-yard pass for six. Eljan Woods splits the uprights for a tie game at seven.
Raton takes the kick from the one to the ten with 35 seconds left on the second period clock with Mattorano taking a knee to end the half with a tie game at seven.
It’s still 90° on the field as the boys return to the field after halftime something Raton is not used to as Raton is sitting at 71°. Eunice will take the kickoff to start the second half of play and begin the series at their 35. Eunice unable to move the ball goes three and out to begin the half. Berry muffs the punt but manages to get back on the ball.
Raton mixes it up and has had five different players in the backfield through the game but is still unable to move the ball and is forced to punt. WD Hyer sends it to the Cardinal 36 where Eunice will begin the series.
On the second play of the series Eljah Woods breaks free for a 66-yard run to pay dirt and six. The snap was bobbled on the 2-point try and leaves the game at 13-7.
Raton takes the ball to the Raton 30 to begin the next series of plays. On the ground and in the air, Raton gets the ball inside the 25 with a 25-yard pass to Mario Alveraz. An illegal procedure penalty and sack takes Raton back to the 37 for a third and 27. Raton turned the ball over on downs giving Eunice the ball at their 25.
Raton commits a face mask penalty to give Eunice 15 additional yards to the 39-yard line. The Melancon pass is snagged out of the air by Wyatt Berry and goes 50 plus yards for six for the tie. Raton’s WD Hyer makes the PAT for the go ahead point, 14-13 at 2:39 in the third.
Eunice takes the kickoff to their 27 to begin the next series of plays. Woods takes the handoffs and goes to the Tiger 48 followed by a pass to Thompson for 14. Woods has another great run to take the ball inside the red zone to the 11. Melancon makes a pass into the end zone to Jaen Castro for six. Raton commits an offside on the extra point try. Eunice is going for the 2-point try. Brady Colborn takes the ball to pay dirt to make it a 21-14 game with a unsportsman like penalty on the Cardinals after the score. They will kickoff from the 25 for the penalty.
Joseph Saenz takes the ball to the Cardinal 47 on the kickoff with 58 seconds left in the third. Raton takes the ball into the fourth quarter with a third and three. A face mask penalty takes the ball down to the 15 from the spot of the foul. Saenz breaks free for 12 and gives Raton the ball on the two. Mattorano plows it in for six from the one. Raton goes for the 2-point conversion with a pass from Mattorano to Mario Alvarez to make it a 22-21 game.
Eunice takes the ball at the Cardinal 31 to start the drive. Melancon does the keeper and takes it 20. The next play Eljan Woods takes it the distance (45 yards) for six with 9:37 on the clock. Woods makes the PAT for a 28-22 lead.
Raton begins the drive at the 15 after a big kickoff by Woods. Mattorano throws an interception on the third play of the drive giving Eunice the ball on the Raton 15. Eunice keeps it on the ground then goes to the air for a 12-yard pass play for six. The extra point try fails leaving the score 34-22.
Raton’s Mario Alvarez takes the kickoff to the 40 to begin the drive. Hyer then takes a Mattorano pass for 20 more yards. A sack and dropped passes ends the Raton drive, not. A fourth and long pass gets 17 and a first down to keep things going for Raton. Mattorano puts it in the air to Wyatt Berry for a 27-yard pass play and six. WD Hyer puts up the PAT for a 34-29 score.
The kickoff is caught at the 33-yard line and blown down at that point. Woods breaks a tackle and goes 38 yards for Eunice. A false start sends Eunice back five for a first and 15. A pass interference call gives Eunice another 15. Woods takes it 17 down inside the five. Melancon takes it in for six from the 10 at 1:29 left on the clock. The 2-point try fails and leaves it 40-29.
Raton receives the kickoff at the 20 and Berry steps out at the 33-yard line. Hyer makes the grab for 16. Missed passes however put an end to the drive and turn the ball over on downs. Eunice takes the knee to end this ball game and the win.
