By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
It didn’t take long for the Aztec Tigers to prove their dominance Friday night as the class 4A team struck first when quarterback Marcus Crawford drilled one through the line for six from the 1-yard line as the clock ticked to 8:29 in the first quarter.
Raton struggled and was about to turn it over when Aztec committed a personal foul and allowed Raton to move to the 20. Toby Henson attempted a 30-yard field goal that went wide. Again it became a defensive game the remainder of the quarter plagued with penalties until Aztec pulled it together. Early in the second quarter Crawford hit Josh Harris for a 29 yard TD and Hancock split the uprights, it was a 14-0 game.
Raton then fumbled on their first play and then got the ball back when Caleb Wood picked off a Crawford pass. Raton couldn’t capitalize on the turnovers and went three and out. The Punt return took Aztec to the Aztec 30.
Three plays later Crawford put up another one into the hands of Harris, this time from the Raton 29 for six more. The PAT went wide and left the score 20-0 with over 8:00 on the clock.
Raton finally put together a scoring series, going 75 yards in 10 plays. Toby Henson placed it nicely through the uprights to make it a 7-20 game with 3:41 left in the half.
Aztec seemingly unstoppable put together a penalty racked drive that ended with another pass play from Crawford to Harris that went 54 yards for six. Brandon Golmarac caught a Crawford pass to stretch the score by two. Now 28-7 Raton was hoping for a quick end to the first half and take a breather.
Aztec made the second half look just as easy as the first half when it came to scoring. Their first series went 51 yards and ended with a five-yard run by Ryneal Lewis-Adams for six more. Hancock stuck the PAT and extended the Aztec lead to 35-7.
Raton turned the ball over on the Aztec 15 where Crawford once again found Harris flying down the field for an 85-yard pass play for another TD.
Raton struggled down the field and Caleb Wood playing full back was stripped of the ball at the Aztec 40. Aztec suffered a delay, a six-yard loss and a procedure penalty. With third and long, a JV quarterback in the lineup, who put one up to Caleb Gaskins who scampered the distance for another TD. Hancock’s PAT was good.
Raton’s JV then went three and out. Aztec once again marched down the field and put one in the end zone with 49 seconds left on the clock. Hancock puts another one up and it’s a 56-7 game. Raton ended the game by taking a knee and letting the continuous clock run out.
Coach Brock Walton who decided to keep three of his key starters out due to injury knew this was a game they probably wouldn’t win. He had decided Thursday to keep Toby Henson, Luis Ruiz and Anthony Saenz on the sidelines. Since this non-district game wasn’t that important, he decided not to risk further injury keeping those players healthy for Portales next week.
Raton will travel to Portales to battle the 3A Rams Friday night in Greyhound stadium, home of Eastern New Mexico University Greyhounds. That game will be at 7:00 p.m.
