By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
The 3-1 Clayton Yellowjackets travelled the four lane to Raton Friday night (September 24, 2021) for the Tiger’s Homecoming match up in the Jungle and what a game it was as Raton started it off quick and never looked back.
Clayton won the toss but deferred and kicked off to start the game and 19 seconds on the clock later Cayden Walton crossed the goal line on a 43-yard scamper. Cole Hopper added the PAT and it was a 7-0 game. Clayton’s first series of plays went three and out giving Raton the ball on the Yellowjacket 46.
Six plays later Raton QB Dylan Quartieri hands it off to Chance Middlebrook on his way by scampering six to pay dirt and then does it again to add the 2-point conversion for a 15-0 lead with 6:04 on the clock. Clayton goes three and out once again with a short punt leaving Raton the ball on their own 41. Cayden Walton then twists and turns and turns up the speed for a 59-yard TD run. Hopper adds the PAT for a 22-0 lead at 3:58 on the first quarter clock.
Clayton takes the ball into the second quarter where they are once again forced to punt it away. Walton takes the return to the Clayton 37. An incomplete pass and offsides puts Raton on the 32 where Matthew Quartieri takes the pass from Raton QB Dylan Quartieri and out races the Clayton defenders to the goal line for another six. Hopper’s PAT on the second try after an offside penalty is good for a 29-0 score with 11:07 on the clock.
Hopper puts the kickoff in the end zone for the touchback as he has done several times this season to give Clayton the ball on the 20. The Raton defense holds the Yellowjackets to another three and out where the punt gives Raton the ball on their 44. Four plays later Middlebrook takes a pass from Quartieri going 35 yards for another six. Hopper adds the PAT for a 36-0 game.
Clayton works out six plays before the punt where Cayden Walton scampered the yardage for a TD but it was called back on a personal foul penalty leaving Raton with ball on the 45. Not to worry as three plays later Walton scampers 50 yards for another TD. Chance Middlebrook runs it in for the 2-point and Raton leads 44-0 with 21 seconds on the clock.
Clayton’s Jerry Archuleta takes the kickoff 98 yards along the far sideline for six with Wyatt Berry the only Tiger coming close to a tackle in the last 20 yards of the run. The 2-point try fails with six seconds left on the clock and Raton ends the half with an incomplete pass.
Clayton gets the second half kickoff only to lose the ball three plays later to a Wyatt Berry pass interception at the Clayton 19. Two plays later it’s a pass play to Chance Middlebrook for a 15-yard TD play. Hopper adds the PAT for a 51-6 lead at 8:39 on the running clock.
Wyatt Berry ends Clayton’s next series with another pass interception. The JV now in the game goes three and out only to recover the fumble on the punt followed by Clayton recovering a Raton fumble on the 25. Clayton goes the 75 yards with the help of a personal foul penalty and a 25-yard romp by senior AJ Quintana for six. The 2-point try fails and leaves the score 51-12 with 57 seconds on the third quarter clock.
Clayton recovers the on-side kick and takes the ball into the fourth quarter where three plays later its once again AJ Quintana for six from the 15-yard line. An offside penalty moves the ball half the distance and gives Clayton the chance to add the 2-point conversion this time for a 51-20 score.
Raton moves the kickoff to the 43 where a Middlebrook pass for 25 and a face mask puts the ball on the Clayton 20. This time Zach Lose gets the call and it’s a 16-yard pass play for six. Hopper’s PAT misses leaving it a 57-20 score.
A penalty on the kickoff moves the ball to the Raton 45 to give Clayton great field position that’s sets up a 45-yard scamper by non-other than AJ Quintana for a Clayton TD. Clayton converts the 2-pointer and it’s a 57-28 ball game at 9:05 on the fourth quarter clock.
Clayton tries the onside kick again and Raton bobbles the ball where Clayton picks it up on the 50. Clayton punter bobbles the bad snap and Raton recovers the ball on the Clayton 35. Cayden Walton gets the call and scampers 16 for a Tiger TD. Raton pulls a wide set on the extra point with the hike going to Chance Middlebrook for a 2-point try that fails leaving the scoreboard with a 63-28 score at 6:24 on the clock.
Clayton turns the ball over on downs and Raton runs the clock out to give Raton an 6-0 record going into district play next week against the West Las Vegas Dons who also sport a 5-0 record with big wins over the likes of Highland HS in Albuquerque and Portales. As noted by the KRTN sports crew (EJ Johnson and Abe Elliot) Raton has not been behind in any game this season so going into district play could be interesting to see how Raton operates should they fall behind in the game.
