By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
The Raton Tigers began the 2026 football season on the road and travelled all the way across the state for a game in Farmington with Navajo Prep Friday night August 21, 2026.
The Tigers had questions again having graduated several from last year’s playoff contender, but the Tiger defense which was one of the top defenses in the state, played up to last season’s standards and in mid-season form, shutting-out the Eagles potent offense, to earn a 35 – 0 road win.
Raton took the ball to begin the game with the ball up field of the 30. Raton kept the ball on the ground struggling to move the ball and were forced to punt the ball away. The Eagles took the punt at their 23 and also kept the ball on the ground initially. An incomplete pass forced Prep to punt the ball away with a very short punt giving Raton the ball on the Eagle 38.
Both teams suffered first game jitters on their first series of plays going four and out. Raton continued to move the ball on the ground. Raton went to the air and Braylon Walton found Luciano Castillo for six. Cael Walton takes the ball in for the 2-point try and makes it an 8-0 game.
The Eagles take the KO at the 42. A 15-yard pass turns into a 30-yard personal foul gain for the Eagles with a first down on the Raton 29. A strong Raton defense held on as the Eagles put it up and fell just short of the first down marker. Raton then loses the ball on the first down and gives the ball back to the Eagles on the Raton 19. Raton held on with a sack and running loss. The Eagles put it up on a 4th and 18 that fell incomplete in the endzone.
Luciano Castillo takes the ball and flies down the field only to have the 36-yard gain thwarted by the yellow hanky moving the ball back to the 23. Raton struggles to move the ball and is forced to punt it away, Cooper King sends it down the field, but the Eagles move the ball into Raton territory at the 47.
The Eagles bring the ball into the second quarter with a penalty back to their 49. On the ground and in the air the Eagles move the ball back and forth eventually getting inside the red zone to the Raton 14. In the air Raton’s Jonathan Decker picks it out of the air and moves the ball to the Raton 42. Raton puts the ball on the ground and moves the ball up the field only to have the yellow hanky bring is back to a first and 20. A pass play results in a fumble and gives the ball back to the Eagles on their 44. The Eagles lose the ball and it’s a Raton ball on the Eagle 34.
Cael Walton gets the handoff and sprints the 34 yards to the endzone for a 14-0 score. Cooper King attempts the PAT that hits the upright and falls good to make it a 15-0 ball game.
The Eagles begin the series at their 42. The Eagles keep the ball on the ground but struggled to move the ball and a sack sealed the deal for Raton. Cael Walton then took the ball 62 yards for another Raton score making it a 21-0 game.
The Eagles take the KO at their 34-yard line. Again, on the ground the Eagles struggle to move the ball as the Raton defense hold strong and force a punt on 4th and 11. Raton will begin the series at the Raton 27 and go to the air. Unable to move the ball Raton is forced to punt the ball away and gave the ball to the Eagles at the 45. Referees then gave the Eagles one more try leaving one second on the clock where they put it in the air only to have it knocked down to finish off the first half of play.
Third quarter action began with the Tiger’s Cooper King putting a foot in the ball, The Eagles take the KO to their 38. The Raton defense stiffens up and forces the Eagles to a four and out. Cael Walton takes the punt to the Raton 42. The Tigers keep it on the ground and move into Eagle territory at the Eagle 38. The yellow hanky however sends Raton back down the field and a sack give Raton a 3rd and long. Raton is forced to punt the ball away. King saves a high hike and gets a kick off with the Eagles taking over on their 49.
Again, the Eagles struggle to move the ball and go backwards and are forced to punt. Raton takes the punt to the Eagles 43. Raton suffers from the yellow rag again and dropped passes leave Raton at the Eagles 48. Cael Walton takes the ball and turns on the after burners and finds the end zone for another Raton six. King puts the PAT through the uprights for a 28-0 at 5:44 in the third.
King’s KO goes to the Eagles who bring it back 15. The Raton defense finds their groove and again forces a four and out for the Eagles. Raton takes the punt at the 39. On the ground the Walton Castillo duo moves the ball up the field then the yellow hanky flies again. The Tigers get back the yardage and a first down and move into the fourth quarter.
They start the fourth quarter with a dropped pass and a turnover with the Eagles taking over on their 22-yard line. The Eagles get an offside penalty and gain five. The Eagles move the ball but again are forced to punt the ball away to the Raton 37.
Raton moves the ball on the ground and in the air. On a second and 10 Braylon Walton airs it out to Luciano Castillo who scrambles to the end zone for another Raton six. Cooper King nails the PAT for a 35-0 at 7:24 in the fourth.
The mercy rule took over the clock as Raton brings in some of the younger players to get game experience. King’s KO goes deep and gives the Eagles the ball on their 29. The Eagles keep the ball on the ground and move up the field. The yellow hanky helps out the Eagles with a pass interference call as they move inside the red zone to the 15 on the seventh play of the drive. The running clock works against the Eagles as Cameron Mascarenas intercepts a Crow pass and secure the game for Raton with 15 seconds left. The clock runs out and gives Raton their first win of the season at 35-0.
The Tigers will be at home next week against the Lamar Thunder for a 7:00 p.m. game in the Jungle.
Be First to Comment