By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
It was another warm one in the jungle as Raton received the opening kickoff from the Lamar Thunder in the second game of the Raton football season.
Raton however ended this first drive on a pass interception that was picked off by Cael Buxto who took ball 44 yards to pay dirt to put Lamar on the board first. Wyatt Berry blocked the PAT and left the score 6-0 with 6:43 on the first period clock.
Lamar’s Alex Aguilar puts the ball into the endzone where Berry hesitates, and the Referees call it a touch back giving Raton the ball on their 20-yard line. Its four an out for Raton with a punt giving Lamar the ball on the Raton 42. Two plays later Zayden Campbell recovers a Lamar fumble and carriers it out to the Raton 28.
Raton methodically drives the ball field and move into the second quarter where Cannon Walton scampers 34 yards for six. Logan Elliott adds the PAT to take the lead 7-6 at 11:51 to start the second quarter.
Not to be denied the Thunder goes eight plays and finish off the series with a pass from Jacob Dunning to Cason Pollart for a 30-yard pass play and run to the endzone. The 2-point try is good to take the lead 14-7 at 9:52 in the second quarter.
After a kick into the endzone Raton puts together a 14-play drive that only moves the ball out to mid field where they turn the ball over on downs. Raton suffered two big penalties that put the cabosh on the drive.
Lamar takes over on the Raton 47 and start off with a motion penalty that moves the ball back into Lamar territory. Lamar then goes four and out with a punt then Raton finishes off the first half of play deep in their own end of the field.
Lamar takes the second half kickoff to their 24. Raton commits a personal foul penalty and moves Lamar out to the 39-yard line. Lamar punts it away and Raton then goes five and out on downs. Lamar takes the ball into the red zone and a penalty moves the ball to the Raton 10-yard line. A holding penalty moves Lamar back to the 20. Dunning puts one up to Alexander Williams for a 20-yard pass play for six. The Alex Aguilar PAT is good making it a 21-7 ball game at 5:51 in the third.
Raton goes four and out giving Lamar the ball on their 35-yard line. Eight plays later deep in the red zone Dunning puts one up, Raton’s Elijah Kenney steps in front of it on the one-yard line and takes ball out to the Lamar 40.
Raton marches down the field and into the fourth quarter of play. On the 10th play of the drive Cannon Walton puts it to Elijah Kenney for a 43-yard pass and run play for six. Elliott adds the PAT to make it a 21-14 game at 9:16 in the fourth.
Lamar goes five and out followed by a six and out for Raton. On the next Lamar series, they take the ball from their 25-yard line. After some confusion on a penalty the ball gets set down on the Lamar 12. Lamar works the ball down the field and turns it over to Raton. Raton punts it away to the Lamar 16-yard line. Lamar goes to the Raton 25 on a 47-yard pass play to Cael Buxto. Lamar finishes the drive off with another Dunning to Buxto pass play for a 25-yard pass and run for six with 1:30 left on the game clock. Aguilar adds the extra point for a 28-14 score.
Raton goes four and out and leaves Lamar with enough time to three knees to end the ball game. Raton will travel to Trinidad on September 5th for the coal bucket game at 7:00 p.m.
