The Raton Tigers football team overcame injury, penalties which included four TD’s called back, a fumble on the one-yard line and a phantom fumble, but gutted out a 23-14 win over defending state champion Las Vegas Robertson on the road to advance to the semifinals of the 3A NM State Football Playoffs.
Raton threatened to run away with the contest in the first half as they scored on their first possession. A Cayden Walton kickoff return set up the offense at the Raton 42-yard line. The key play in the nine-play drive was a 34-yard catch by Adrian Romero on 3rd and 14 giving Raton a first and goal. Then on a fourth and goal from the one, Cayden Walton scored and after the Cole Hopper PAT Raton led 7-0 with 7:04 left in the first.
Walton would keep the momentum on the Tiger sideline with a pic-six 55-yard interception return for a TD on Robertson’s first possession. After the PAT, Raton led 14-0 with 5:00 still left in the first. The Raton defense playing without starting cornerback Wyatt Berry and two-way anchor lineman Brian Cervantes shut out the Cardinals in the first half. The blanking included two three-and-outs and a safety when Adrian Romero forced an intentional grounding penalty in the Cardinal endzone. Romero, put on a lineman’s jersey and stepped in to fill holes. Raton had chances to put the Cardinals in an even deeper hole, but an ineligible receiver downfield penalty called back the first of four Raton scores that were flagged. Then on the ensuing possession after the safety, the Tigers converted on a 4th and 4 with a 21-yard pass to WD Hyer from Jacob Mattorano. With Raton poised to go in with just over three minutes left in the half, on a third and goal from the one, a fumble killed the opportunity and Raton had to settle for a 16-0 lead at intermission.
In the second half Robertson came out firing and had a 9-play scoring drive with an 11-yard catch for sophomore Nathaniel Gonzales as the payoff with 8:25 left in the third it was 16-7.
Raton’s first possession in the second half started with a Cayden Walton 30-yard run and a 15-yard reception for Cannon Walton to give Raton a first down at the Cardinal 20. A Cayden Walton TD from 12 yards was called back and then on third and long, Nathaniel Gonzales went up and intercepted a ball and ran it back to the Raton 39. Taking advantage of the turnover, Gonzales was on the receiving end of a 19-yard TD, and it took Robertson seven plays to come within two of Raton with 2:28 to go in the third.
Raton would strike quickly in response. On a first down from their own 20, the halfback option pass from Cayden Walton to brother Cannon Walton covered 80 yards and Raton was back on top by 9 with a 23-14 lead with 2:15 to go in the third. Raton seemed to have regained the momentum as the defense pitched another 3 and out and after a short punt Raton was working with a short field and as the third period ended, WD Hyer caught a Mattorano pass to convert a third and long.
As the final quarter began Raton’s Cayden Walton actually had two TD,s called back in the same drive. An illegal procedure penalty negated a 29-yard run, and a holding flag brought back a 15-yard TD pass.
Then momentum swung again to Robertson on the talent of Nathaniel Gonzales. The sophomore intercepted his second pass of the game, and then QB Kenneth Montoya completed a 35-yard completion to Gonzales at the Raton 15. A facemask penalty on Raton gave LVR a first and goal from the seven. Raton’s defense has been strong all year and WD Hyer made a good open field tackle for a loss, then on a fourth and goal from the 10 and down by 9 points the attempted field goal was no good and Raton took over with 6:19 to go.
Cayden Walton ripped off a 20-yard run and then more controversy on a 2nd and seven. Walton bobbled the snap in the Wild Cat formation and appeared to have control and was downed, but the officials said it was a fumble and gave the ball to Robertson.
Call in the Raton defense. On a fourth and one near midfield, Raton denies the conversion and gives the Raton offense the ball. Game over? Not quite, Walton ripped off a 34-yard run that was negated by another holding call and then a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct, had the visiting crowd wondering what exactly their team had to do. On a second and 30, Walton gets 20 to make it a manageable third and five, and then on fourth and one, the Raton offense line gives Walton enough of a crease to get the first down at midfield. Game over… Raton wins 23 -14 and avenges a regular season loss at LVR and ups their record to 9-3
Raton will host #2 Ruidoso in the Jungle on Saturday, November 19 at 1 pm in the 3A semifinal.
KRTN will broadcast on 93.9 FM and it will be streamed on KRTN’s Facebook.
