Raton Wrangles Bears in Regular Season Finale for a District Win

By Marty Mayfield

KRTN Multi-Media

Raton took to the road again this week and traveled the 222 miles to Estancia for the last district and season game for the 2024 regular football season.

Estancia sits at 1-8 overall and 1-3 in district play while Raton posts a 4-5 overall record and a district record of 2-2. Legacy Academy 4-0 along with Santa Rosa 4-0 hold the first and second place in District 2. Santa Rosa and Legacy Academy play each other for the last game of the season and to determine who will be the district champs. Rankings for state playoffs will be determined this weekend and so Raton went out and made a case for a top eight seeding by defeating Estancia by a final of 41-18.

Raton took the opening kickoff out to the 50 and then moved down inside the five. From there Joseph Saenz takes it in for the first score at 9:27 on the game clock. Logan Elliott makes the PAT and it’s a 7-0 game.

The Bears take the ball and on the second play from scrimmage they fumble at the Estancia 30 and Raton recovers. Azden Romero put the ball in the air and then on the ground to move the ball down the field. A loss of yards and Raton turns the ball over on downs. The Bears unable to move are forced to punt the ball away.

Raton takes over on the Estancia 37.  On the ground and in the air, Raton takes it inside the 10 to the six. Joseph Saenz follows Chase Middlebrook over the goal line for six. Elliott hits the upright leaving the score 13-0.

Estancia’s Joshua Villafuerte bobbles the ball and must down ball at their 18. Quinton Barela breaks a tackle and moves the ball down the field for a big gain. They take the ball into the second quarter where they go inside the red zone. The Bears stay on the ground only to have a holding call move them back 10. Estancia goes for it on a 4^th and 12, the pass fell incomplete to turn the ball over to Raton on their 20.

After an intentional grounding call Raton goes four and out with a punt. On the ground the Bears start down the field. With the help of a personal foul Estancia moves inside the red zone to the 11-yard line. An Estancia penalty makes it a 3^rd and 20. 4^th and 21 the Bears pulls out a pass that falls incomplete giving Raton the ball on the Raton 21. Raton goes four and out again with a punt by Cameron Edmondson.

Estancia gets the ball at the 31 where they take to the ground game and move up the field. Inside the red zone to the nine. Barela puts one up for six with 15 seconds left in the half. The PAT was blocked leaving the score 13-6. Raton takes the kickoff and gets one play to end the half.

Estancia takes the second half kickoff. On the ground Estancia stalls and is forced to punt. Raton takes the punt at their own 33 and goes on the ground down the field in15 yard chunks to the Estancia 17. Jospeh Saenz takes the ball to pay dirt, but a late holding call brings it back to the 15. Saenz takes it the 15 yards for six and Elliott adds the PAT for a 20-6 with 8:11 on the third quarter clock.

Estancia takes the KO. On the first play Quinton Barela loses the ball on the tackle recovered by the Tigers on the Estancia 14. Joseph Saenz once again takes the ball the 14 yards to pay dirt. Elliott adds the PAT and it’s a 27-6 ball game.

Estancia takes the KO at the 15. They move out to mid field and turn the ball over on downs. Raton goes back to the ground game and moves down the field. Romero throws an interception for a 98-yard pick six the extra point failed leaving the score 27-12 and the end of the third quarter.

Raton gets the KO at the Estancia 44 with the help of a procedure penalty. Jospeh Saenz starts the series with a 25-yard run. Another long yardage run by Saenz puts the ball inside the 10 and then on the next play Saenz waltz into the end zone for six. Elliott splits the uprights for a 34-12 game.

Estancia starts on the ground trying the outside only to be held by the Raton defense. Unable to move the ball Estancia has a 4^th and 12 and a pass makes the first down. The Bears get a spark and throw down the field finding a long pass inside the 20 to the 12. Estancia battles inside the 10 where they stall at the six-yard line. Its 4^th and five and Barela makes a pass to Justin Rubio for six. It’s a 34-18 game, the PAT fails.

Berry gets the onside kick and takes the ball down to the Estancia 21 with just over two minutes left in the game. 8^th Grader Harlem Coley takes the running duties and takes the ball inside the 10 to the nine. Wyatt Berry takes the hand off as Estancia keys on Coley and adds six, Elliott adds the PAT for a 41-18 game. The Bears end the game with a run.

Raton goes to 3-2 in district play with Estancia dropping to 1-4 in district 2.