Things started off badly for the Raton Tigers in their first-round matchup against the Hatch Valley Bears as Layton Gillis ran back the opening kickoff for an 80-yard touchdown, and then the Raton offense was three- and-outed on their first possession. But, the Tigers gained their composure after a Cayden Walton interception and reeled off 50 unanswered points, rolling into the 3A quarterfinals with a 63-14 win.
Played on a mild November Saturday, Walton picked up on the offensive side as the leading rusher in the State, tore off big chunks of yards and was headed to the endzone when he uncharacteristically fumbled, but Isaac Garcia was downfield blocking for the Tigers and the junior fell on the ball in the endzone for Raton’s first score. After the Cole Hopper PAT, Raton trailed 8-7 with 8:49 left in the first.
A personal foul called on Hatch on the ensuing kickoff put the Bears back at their own 15-yard line and it was Raton’s turn to throw a three-and-out. After the punt, Raton took over on their own 34-yard line. A Walton 31-yard run, a negated Hatch interception because of defensive holding and Walton’s three-yard run gave Raton took the lead for good with 5:00 left in the first quarter and up 14-8.
Cayden Walton had his second defensive takeaway on the next series when he took the ball away on a tackle and gave the home team the ball at their own 36-yard line. QB Jacob Mattorano made them pay for the turnover on the very next play as WD Hyer lined up as a tight end and streaked straight down the field and Mattorano threw a perfect ball for the TD. After the Hopper PAT it was 21-8.
Hatch had the ball for eight plays before punting and Raton took over on their own 45-yard line with the first period winding down. Cayden Walton took a handoff up the middle then glided to the outside and was pushed out at the Bears 10-yard line. Three plays later, Walton would have another 3-yard touchdown run and then Canon Walton would catch a pass on a botched extra point kick for a 29-8 lead as the first quarter wound down.
Raton would add to the momentum into the second quarter as Hatch would attempt a fake punt at their own 31 with a double reverse that was fumbled and Jacob Mattorano scooped and scored the defensive TD for a 36-8 lead.
On the next offensive series for Hatch, Raton’s Wyatt Berry intercepts on a deep pass intended for Demarcus Alaniz and then on a second and six from the Raton 26, a slip screen went for big yardage, but the ball was punched out of the receiver’s arms and recovered by Jacob Avalos for the Bears.
Hatch would be stymied again by the Raton defense as Sophomore QB Omar Gonzales was sacked by Adrian Romero and Isaac Garcia and on the punt, Cayden Walton is sprung loose on a block delivered by Zach Lose for a 6o yard punt return and gave the Tigers the ball on the Hatch 22. After gaining a first down at the 11, Raton’s Cayden Walton got his third rushing TD to push the score to 43-8 and to start the continuous clock late in the second quarter
The second half began with a bang for the Tigers as Raton’s Anderson Weese took a pooch kickoff and raced down the far sideline and didn’t stop until 55 yards later in the endzone and Raton lead 50-8 with only a few seconds gone in the third.
Hatch responded with their first offensive score, a 55-yard rainbow TD from Gonzales to Demarcus Alaniz to make it 50-14.
Raton had its own answer with a 60-yard drive as Walton had runs of 15 and two 14-yard runs to give the Tigers a first and 10 at the Hatch 14. Then WD Hyer gets his 2nd TD from Mattorano on a swing pass and after the Hopper PAT, it’s 57-14 with 3:49 left in the third.
The fourth period saw Hatch continue a long drive but was turned away on a fourth and four inside the 10 on a tackle by Brian Cervantes and Chase Middlebrook.
Raton would then go on a long drive beginning at their own 8 and aided by a 47-yard Walton run, with a Mattorano 1-yard payoff TD and, after the PAT was missed, Raton led 63-14 with 3:00 left and the final score of the game.
#6 seed Raton will go to #3 seed Las Vegas Robertson next week for the quarterfinals.
