By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Raton football travelled east into the Oklahoma panhandle to take on the Guymon Tigers Friday evening August 25, 2023, exactly a year to the day after Raton toppled the Tigers 33-30.
Last year’s game took place on a Thursday evening due to a referee shortage in New Mexico. A problem that continues this year as well. Raton is Guymon’s first game of the season.
The game got underway with Raton receiving the opening kick and taking it to their 20. Raton suffered early game jitters and went three and out on the first series of the game. Guymon took the punt at the Raton 37 after WD Hyer kicked it from the Raton end zone.
Guymon fumbled the hike and Raton recovered at the 36. The Guymon defense held strong keeping Raton from moving the ball up the field and were forced to punt it away. Guymon suffered a block in the back during the return and moved them back to their 42. Guymon managed to move the ball six yards but were forced to punt it away. Wyatt Berry took the punt 50 yards to give Raton the ball at the Guymon 40-yard line.
Raton could only manage six yards this series and on fourth and short Raton managed to get Guymon to jump offsides and get the first down at the 30. Joseph Saenz gets a 14-yard pass play to the 17 but loses three on the next play. Raton gets another offsides on Guymon. Jacob Mattorano threw one to high into the end zone and Raton turns it over on downs at the Guymon 13.
Guymon gets nine on the series and a pass play gives them a first down. A face mask call moves the ball to the Raton 40. Another pass moves the ball 24 yards to the Raton 18. A block in the back moves the ball back for Guymon. A pass interference call then moves the ball to the Raton 25. A 14-yard pass to Grady Legrange gives Guymon their first TD of the game with 21 seconds left on the first period clock. The PAT failed leaving the score 6-0.
Raton takes the kick and goes to their 32. Again, unable to move the ball and ends the quarter with a third and nine. Mattorano throws an interception to begin the second quarter at the Guymon 44-yard line.
Guymon puts one up and Wyatt Berry picks off the ball and takes it 48 yards to the Guymon two. The Guymon defense holds tough but Raton scores with 10:15 on a short pass to Joseph Saenz for six. WD Hyer puts up the PAT for a 7-6 lead.
Guymon takes the ball to their 39. Tarik Watson takes the ball but fumbles it for eight yards and then another fumble out of bounds gives Guymon a first down. A 17-yard run moves the ball to the 30-yard line. Guymon makes another long run to the Raton 11. A pass into the endzone is called back on a procedure penalty gives Guymon a third and 19. On fourth and 19 Guymon then tries a 32-yard field goal to add three to the score board leaving it 9-7.
Raton takes the ball to the 20 where Mario Alvarez fumbles it and give Guymon the ball at the Raton 20. Guymon loses ground and ends the series after three. Again, Guymon tries a field goal from the 33-yard line fell short and gives Raton the ball on the 20.
Raton unable to move downfield once again is forced to punt it away after a false start penalty and a missed pass. WD Hyer punts it away on a high punt to the 46-yard line.
Guymon goes to the air to start the series. With a mix of running and passes gets inside the Raton 20 to the 13-yard line. A motion penalty moves it back five followed by a fumble, but Guymon maintains possession. Guymon tries a 29-yard field goal for another three points and a six-point lead at 12-7.
Joseph Saenz takes the kickoff to the Raton 20 with 49 seconds on the second period clock. Raton lets the clock run down and end the half.
Raton kicks off to begin the second half of play and Guymon takes the ball to the to the Guymon 40-yard line. Guymon starts strong with a 20-yard run to the Raton 41. Guymon fumbles the ball but manages to keep possession after a 7-yard gain. Vargas loses nine after a high hike creates a sack. Tarick Watson carries it down the field for a first down at the Raton 24. A fourth and four pass to Grady Legrange goes to the Raton nine. A 15-yard pass play to Tarick Watson goes for six. Wyatt Berry dives in to block the PAT and keep the score 18-7.
Joseph Saenz takes the kickoff from the five to the Raton 33. Again, unable to move the ball down field goes for a pass on third and long for another interception. Guymon takes over on their own 37.
Guymon makes a 20-yard run into Raton territory. Guymon then goes three and out. An illegal substation penalty moves the ball back another five. The punt goes to the Raton 24 where Raton will try again to move the ball against the strong Guymon defense.
Joseph Saenz runs 17 yards to give Raton a first down. Berry then takes it 12 to the Guymon 48. Berry then takes a 15-yard pass play to go inside the 30. Mario Alvarez makes the grab after WD Hyer just misses a high pass to give Raton another five to the 24-yard line. Raton ends the drive with a pass to Alvarez who gets the pass and fumbles the ball which is recovered by Guymon.
Guymon runs out the third quarter on the ground leaving the score 18-7. Raton starts out the fourth quarter with an unsportsmanlike penalty giving Guymon a second and one. The Raton defense held strong and forced Guymon to punt the ball away. Raton takes over on the Raton 39.
Joseph Saenz takes the run to the Guymon 42. Guymon commits a roughing the passer penalty after the pass with Raton committing a grounding penalty for offsetting penalties. The Guymon defense stiffens up and prevents Raton from moving down the field and a motion penalty giver Raton a 24-yard second down. Raton then commits a delay of game penalty for a third and 19. Raton ends the drive with a fourth and 19. WD Hyer punts the ball away to the Guymon 20.
Guymon keeps it on the ground and gets a first then loses two. Guymon then goes into clock management mode running the play clock down to the last seconds. After a loss Guymon is forced to punt. Wyatt Berry gets the punt and goes for 24 yards however two yellow hankies fly to move the ball back to the Raton 25 which nullified the punt return.
Raton takes it at the 25 and Jacob Mattorano keeps it on the ground for 12. Raton commits another fumble but manages to maintain possession. A pass to Saenz is fumbled and Guymon recovers at the Raton 28.
Guymon then fumbles the ball, but Guymon maintains possession for a loss of nine. Guymon passes on a fourth and 10 to Grady Legrange who takes it to the Raton 10-yard line. Guymon has a third and goal at the eight with just over a minute left in the game. Another fumble moves Guymon back to the 11-yard line. WD Hyer just misses a pass from Guymon QB Miguel Vargas so Raton takes over on downs at their 11 yard line.
Joseph Saenz makes a run out to the 30. Mattorano then throws an interception with only .9 seconds left. Guymon snaps the ball and a knee to end the game with an 18-7 score.
Raton will be at home for the coal bucket game against Trinidad on Saturday September 2, 2023, for a 7:00 p.m. game.
