By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
It started out dry with a wet field but not too long after the second quarter started the rain fell as Raton hosted the 1-7 McCurdy Bobcats for a district game in the Jungle Friday night.
Cameron Mascarenas got things going with a 76-yard kickoff return and Colt Ayon finished it with a six-yard TD run to pay dirt. Cooper King added the PAT for a 7-0 lead with only 17 seconds gone off the first quarter clock.
The Bobcats went five plays and turned it over to the Tigers, who went 48 yards in five plays and finished the drive with a six-yard pass play to Warren Berry. King adds the PAT for a 14-0 at 8:18 on the clock.
The Bobcats did another five and out with a punt to Cameron Mascarenas who brings the ball back to the Bobcat 47. Two plays later it’s a 35-yard pass play to Brayden Decker for another six. King adds the PAT for a 21-0 game with 6:17 on the clock.
On the next McCurdy series of plays Devin Ortiz tosses one up and Justin Romero ends it with a pass interception taking it to the Bobcat 14. Harlem Coley takes the handoff and plows it in for six at 4:51. Offsides moves the ball back for an extra five-yard PAT attempt that fails leaving it a 27-0 score.
The next McCurdy series of downs ends on the fifth play as Justice Romero picks off another Ortiz pass and goes about 35 yards for a pick-six. Raton’s Harlem Coley takes it over the goal line for a 2-point try and makes the score 35-0 at 3:10 on the first quarter clock.
Ivan Aragon takes the kickoff 73 yards for a Bobcat six-point score. The 2-point try fails leaving the score 35-6 at 2:24. The Unsportsmanlike penalty was assessed on the Kickoff that went wide and out of bounds to give Raton the ball on Raton 30. It’s a 50-yard gain on a Braylon Walton pass to Luciano Castillo. From the 20 Walton tosses it to Cooper King for a 20-yard TD. King puts up the PAT and hits the upright leaving the score 41-6.
McCurdy goes eight plays on this series but just can’t quite make things work and Ortiz tosses another interception to Justice Romero at the Raton five and carries it into Bobcat Territory where he fumbles but Brayden Decker drops on the ball at the Bobcat 38 and the rain begins to fall. From 38 yards Colt Ayon takes the ball to pay dirt for a 47-6 score. The PAT snap was mishandled and leaves the score 47-6 with 10:52 in the second quarter.
The Bobcats go four and out turning the ball over on a punt at the Bobcat 34. A Walton pass play to Castillo goes the 34 yards for another Raton six. The Cooper King PAT is good for a 54-6 score at 8:41 on the second quarter clock.
The Bobcats do another eight plays and are forced to punt the ball away and Raton takes it to the 37. With the rain coming down Raton keeps it on the ground with Harlem Coley taking it down the field inside the five. An offside moves it half the distance and Coley takes it in from the three. King adds the PAT and it’s a 61-6 ball game at 1:26 on the first half clock.
The Raton defense holds the Bobcats and ends the game at halftime with the 50-point mercy rule. That sets up an interesting game for Raton as they will host the Tucumcari Rattlers next Friday. Santa Rosa beat Tucumcari 12-7 in Tucumcari Friday night. Raton’s win leaves them at 2-0 in district play and Tucumcari and Santa Rosa tied at 1-1 in district play. Santa Rosa plays McCurdy next week and should go 2-1 after that game leaving the Raton Tucumcari game to decide the district champ, or will it? A win by Raton will leave them undefeated in the district however a loss will leave the district with a three way tie the championship.
Here is where the math comes into play with a 13-point tie breaker. Raton beat Santa Rosa by seven. Tucumcari beat Santa Rosa by five. If Tucumcari beats Raton by less than five Raton is still district champs. If Raton loses by six or more Tucumcari is the district champ. Raton wins the game and Raton is the district champs. Raton will host Tucumcari Friday October 30, 2026, for the big game at 7:00 p.m. in the Jungle.
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