Raton Retains Coal Bucket
By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
The Raton Tigers traveled north over the pass for the annual Coal Bucket rivalry football game in Trinidad Friday night September 6, 2024, and for the eighth year brought the Coal Bucket back to Raton in a 47-30 rout of the Miners.
Trinidad won the coin toss and elected to kickoff which they did with a onside kick that gave Raton the ball on the 47. Raton struggles to move the ball and punts it away. Trinidad then goes four and out and two plays later Raton’s Cannon Walton goes 36 yards for six. At 6:34 on the clock. Elliot misses the PAT and leaves it 6-0.
Another four and out for Trinidad and again two plays later Raton is in the end zone for six with a 20-yard pass play from Walton to Wyatt Berry. Elliot gets the PAT this time and leaves it 13-0 with 3:31 left in the 1stquarter.
Another four and out for Trinidad and Raton takes the ball into the second quarter and a short pass on 4thand goal from the 11 Walton hits Luciano Castillo for an 11-yard pass play for six. The PAT is no good and leaves the score a 19-0 at 9:42 on the second period clock.
Trinidad puts together a 12-play drive from their 39 that culminates in a 14-yard scamper by Xavier Garcia for six. The PAT is good for a 19-7 score at 3:34. Raton gets a great return on the kickoff from Wyatt Berry to the 45. Cannon Walton finds a hole and it’s a race to the end zone. A pass to Wyatt Berry adds the 2-point try for a 27-7 game at 3:15 on the second quarter clock.
Raton added another six to the scoreboard with a 28-yard pass play to Wyatt Berry. The 2-point try fails and leaves the score 34-7. Trinidad finished off the first half and took the second half kickoff where Chase Middlebrook found a Trinidad fumble on the Raton 21. Two plays later Marcus Dasko pulls down a Cannon Walton pass. Unable to convert Trinidad turns the ball over to Raton.
Two plays later Cannon Walton takes the ball 14 yards for six with 7:20 left in the third. The PAT is good, and Raton is up 41-7. Trinidad puts together a drive but faulters deep in Raton territory and turns the ball over on downs. Raton gets out to the 43 and then moves backwards with penalties. On play 12 of the series a bad snap result in a fumble and gives Trinidad the ball on the Raton 24. Isaiah Moreno finds running room and scampers the 24 yards for six. Trinidad adds the 2-point conversion and makes it a 41-15 game with 14 seconds left in the third.
Raton takes the ball into the fourth quarter and five plays later the end zone with a run by Elijah Kenney for six. The PAT fails and leaves the score 47-15.
Three plays later Trinidad fumbles the ball, and Raton recovers on the Raton 28. Raton is unable to move the ball and a bad snap on 4th and long goes into the end zone where Trinidad’s Andrew East recovers the ball for a Miner TD. The 2-point try is good and makes the score 47-23.
With Azden Romero at the helm Raton puts together a 10-play drive that stalls and gives Trinidad the ball on the 48. Trinidad with Marcus Dasko at quarterback works down the field and culminates the drive with a 20-yard run by Dasko for six. The PAT is good and leaves the final score at 47-30 with only three seconds on the clock. Raton takes a knee to finish it off and take the Coal Bucket back to Raton.
Raton will have a bye week and then go back on the road to Las Vegas to take on the Robertson Cardinals on September 20, 2024.
