The Raton Tiger football team began the 3A NM State Championships by taking on the District 5AAA champion Thoreau on the road Saturday, Nov. 4th, and even though the home team Hawks had a better regular season record, the Tigers started the post-season with a convincing 35-8 win.
Raton was given the ninth seed in the twelve-team tournament having lost six regular season games. , but three of those losses came against District 2AAA foes who have been given three of the top four seeds.
The Raton offense set the tone early, starting at their own 25-yard line and it took just four plays for the Tiger offensive line to assert themselves as Cannon Walton had big gains on three running plays including the 19-yard TD pitch. After the Logan Elliott PAT, Raton led 7-0 with only 1:46 used off the clock.
The Raton Defense also flexed its muscles early as on the first offensive play, the Hawks QB was intercepted by Justin Mattorano, and after a facemask penalty, the Raton offense had a first and goal from the five. Cannon Walton got his second TD just 30 seconds after his first one and a 14-0 lead with 9:47 left in the first.
The Raton Defense pitched a 3 and out and a good punt by the Hawks gave Raton their third possession at their own 20-yard line. The Tigers Joseph Saenz has been battling a leg injury for much of the year, but the junior had a big gainer to the Hawks 30. The Tigers had to convert on a fourth-down pass to Wyatt Berry and cross the goal line three times before one of them would count as both Walton and Saenz would break the plane, but holding calls would keep the points off the board. Not to be denied, Walton’s third TD from 4 yards out came with 2:58 left in the first period and gave the Tigers a 21 – 0 lead.
On the kickoff, a horse collar tackle infraction gave the Hawks the ball near midfield. They ended the first quarter with a fourth down conversion and to begin the second period, Raton was flagged for pass interference giving Thoreau a first and ten at the Raton 11-yard line. Raton’s defense was backed up against their own end-zone for six plays, including a first and goal from the one, but on second down, Joe Arguello filled the hole and stuffed the running back, then on third down, Raton’s Isaac Garcia recovered a sack-fumble to give Raton the ball. The Hawks’s defense then dealt a three-and-out to the Raton offense and took over again at the 49-yard line. On a first down from the Raton 36, after another pass interference flag, a dropped pass in the endzone followed by another sack by Raton, this time by Jacob Mattorano and on a 4th and long, a quick kick gave Raton the ball on their own 14-yard line and a little over three minutes left in the half.
Kaleb Salazar and Wyatt Berry caught back-to-back Mattorano passes and runs by Walton and an end around with WD Hyer gave Raton a third and goal with :10 left in the half. After the time out, Walton would get his fourth TD of the half and lead 28 – 0 going into the locker room.
The Hawks would receive the third-quarter kickoff and their drive would stall at the Raton 35-yard line. It didn’t take long for Raton to take advantage again, using Joseph Saenz’ speed for a 65-yard scoring run and the extra point giving Raton a running clock with 9:53 remaining in the third.
Thoreau spoiled the Raton shutout when they recovered a Raton fumble with a little over 5 minutes to go and, after another pass interference penalty, had a first down on the Raton 35-yard line. After a holding penalty, Hawks QB Isaac Bear Eagle finds Tys Nelson with a 45-yard picture-perfect scoring pass and the two-point PAT made the score 35-8.
Raton will advance to the number one seed Santa Fe St. Michaels on Saturday, November 11 at 1 pm. KRTN will broadcast again on 93.9 FM and stream the audio on FB.
