By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
The Raton Tigers new district alignment this season has moved them out of the district with long-time rival St. Michael’s Horseman. But the memory of St Mike’s knocking Raton out of the playoffs the previous two year’s in a row gave the Tigers even more incentive when the undefeated Horsemen rode into town on Friday, September 27th. It was one of those Chamber of Commerce evenings as the 5-0 Horsemen came into the Jungle for a non-district matchup and then got back on the bus after handing Raton a 40-7 loss.
The Horsemen won the coin toss and deferred, giving Raton the ball to begin the game, but only went three-and-out on their first series. St Mikes took over on the 40 and with a 3rd and 19 from the 34, St Mikes QB Reed Bass finds Isaiah Dominguez for six with 7:26 off the first quarter clock. Elijah Gutierrez splits the uprights for a 7-0 ball game.
Raton does another three and out and gives St Mikes the ball on the Raton 38. From there the Horsemen struggle and with the help of a couple of penalties are pushed back. Lightning strikes for Raton, though when QB Reed Bass plops one in the hands of Azden Romero who takes the ball 68 yards for a pick six. Logan Elliot adds the PAT and makes it a tie game at 3:50 in the first quarter.
St Mikes takes over and goes six plays before QB Kamal Stith puts one up and Raton’s Joseph Saenz picks it out of the air for the turnover. Raton, however, struggles and a couple of penalties force Raton to punt the ball away. Five plays later St Mikes once again finds the end zone as Soren Annon takes the handoff from the six for six. Raton Blocks the Gutierrez PAT for a 13-7 game with 5:50 on the second quarter clock.
Raton goes six and out this series and three plays later St Mikes Reed Bass tosses one up to Soren Annon for a 46-yard pass play to give the Horsemen a 19-7 lead. Gutierrez converts the PAT for a 20-7 game with 2:11 left in the half.
Raton takes the kickoff out to the 33 and five plays later fumble the ball and St Mikes finished off the half leading with a 20-7 score.
The 3rd Quarter begins with a quick St Mikes strike when Soren Annon takes the handoff and it’s a foot race to the end zone for a 55-yard TD run with 11:11 on the clock. The PAT is once again blocked by Raton leaving the score 26-7.
Raton fumbles the ball on the kickoff return and four plays take the ball back on a St Mikes fumble on the 24. Raton, however, struggles and with a couple of penalties, and loses the ball when Kailei Archuleta intercepts a Cannon Walton pass. St Mikes, however, turns it right back over as Joseph Saenz picks off his second intereception, but the joy doesn’t last long as Isaiah Domenguez picks a Cannon Walton pass two plays later.
St Mikes takes the ball, and five plays later turns the ball over on downs. Raton then takes the ball into the fourth quarter but turns the ball over after a Walton sack.
Two plays later Cole Sandoval takes the handoff and flies down the field for another St Mikes score with 9:29 left in the fourth. Gutierrez makes the PAT and leaves the score 33-7.
Raton goes five and out this series as does St Mikes. A fumble by Raton on third down gives the ball to St Mikes on their own three-yard line. St Mikes moves down the field and on the fifth play its another Soren Annon race to the end zone for a 68-yard score. Gutierrez makes the PAT for a 40-7 score at 1:31 on the fourth quarter game clock.
Despite a fumble Raton manages to hang on to the ball to the final buzzer.
Raton’s next game is their first District opponent and will travel to Legacy Academy to take on another undefeated team. The game has been moved to Thursday, October 3 with kickoff set for 7:30 pm.
