The Raton Tigers went on the road for Friday night football in Tucumcari and the Tigers’ defense bit the Rattlers hard while the offense rolled to notch a 41 – 0 victory.
With the W, Raton evened their season record to 2-2 and it was apparent early that Raton had come to play. Raton started strong with a 60-yard kickoff return from Kaleb Salazar and then made short work of the drive by only taking four snaps before Wyatt Berry took a short screen and scored the first points with 9:47 left in the first.
Raton’s defense forced the home team to punt after five plays and took over on the 49-yard line, but on a fourth and nine came up one yard short to turn it over on downs. Tucumcari was caught for holding and couldn’t overcome the mistake and punted to Raton with the first quarter winding down Then Berry took another screen from Jacob Mattorano and the junior screamed down the field, picking up a block along the way and did not stop before a 58 yard TD score made it 13-0 with 1:43 left in the first.
Raon’s Joseph Saenz intercepts Nicolas Romero as the first quarter started to wind down, but Luis Archuleta for Tucumcari returned the favor intercepting Mattorano inside the Rattler ten.
The first quarter, however, ended with a Raton defensive exclamation point as they tackled the ball carrier in the endzone for a safety and a 15 – 0 lead.
The second quarter was scoreless and the bulk of the playing time was eaten up by Raton’s 16-play drive, but it was fruitless as they were stopped on a fourth down attempt inside the Tucumcari 15. The Rattlers were again stymied by the Raton defense though and had to punt. Even though WD Hyer returned the punt 40 yards to the Rattler 6, it was Tucumcari’s defense that stiffened for a goal-line stand and turned Raton away as the first half expired.
The second half began well for Raton as the Tiger kick coverage team knocked the ball loose from the returner and Raton took over on the Rattler 44. A 13-yard run by Saenz, followed by a 29-yard run by Walton gave Raton a first and goal at the 5 and then Mattorano finished off the ground pounding with a two-yard run to make it 22-0 with 9:26 left in the 3rd.
Tucumcari could not figure out the Raton defense all night long and punted to the Raton 47. Joseph Saenz, however did figured it out and the junior had a 28-yard scamper and then following a completion to Wyatt Berry, Saenz’s 6-yard run gave Raton a 28 – 0 lead with 5:05 to go in the third. Tucumcari then put together a sustained drive to try and breakthrough on the scoreboard, but Raton’s Matt Munoz blitzed on 4th and 7 and caused an incompletion. Raton took over as the third quarter wound down and then the fourth quarter was all Raton and Joseph Saenz. Saenz gained 18 to end the 3rd, then took a screen pass for a 13-yard gain then bounced outside for 7, then a 17-yard gain, and then followed a WD Hyer block up the middle for an 11-yard TD for a 36 – 0 lead with 10:39 left in the game and a running clock.
The Raton defense and Wyatt Berry set up the Raton offense when Berry intercepted and gave Raton the ball at midfield. Berry has intercepted a pass in every one of Raton’s games. Then Saenz turned a busted play into a 13-yard gain and then WD Hyercaught a screen from Mattorano and then followed the blocking in for a 37-yard score to make it 41-0 with 5:46 left.
Raton’s Homecoming opponent is Escalante as the Lobos will play in the Jungle on Friday, September 15 at 7 pm.
The game will be broadcast on 93.9 FM and video streamed on FM93.9EnchantedAirKRTN Facebook.
