By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Raton hosted a young Trinidad Miners team Saturday night September 2, 2023 in the Jungle for the annual Coal Bucket game where Raton Scored first and often to mark the win column.
Raton took the opening kickoff, and three plays later fumbled the ball giving Trinidad an opportunity to start the scoring. 13 plays later Trinidad was forced to punt the ball and on the first play Joseph Saenz scampered 58 yards for six and the first score of the game. WD Hyer Split the uprights for a 7-0 game at 3:36 in the first quarter.
Trinidad goes four and out on the nxt series and sets up the next Raton scoring drive when Canon Walton takes it over the goal line for another six, Hyer adds the PAT for a 14-0 score at 9:52 in the second period.
With the help of a pass interference penalty Trinidad moves down the field only to be stopped by the Raton defense and turn the ball over on downs. Raton then relies on the legs of Joseph Saenz for two carries of 18 and 18 yards to the Trinidad 13. Raton tops it off with a pass play from Jacob Mattorano to Mathew Munoz for six and another Raton score. Hyer tacks on the PAT and makes it a 21-0 game at 4:04 on the second quarter clock.
Trinidad struggles with penalties and ends up with a fourth and 22 and is forced to turn the ball over on downs. This time Cannon Walton takes the ball 30 yards for six more Raton points. Hyer adds the PAT for a 28-0 ball game at 2:21 left in the second quarter.
Trinidad goes six plays then Sophomore quarterback Xavier Garcia throws the ball right into the hands of Wyatt Berry and sets up another scoring drive for Raton. Raton takes five plays to march down the field and finish off the drive with another long run this time by Jacob Mattorano who scrambles for 33 yards to pay dirt. Hyer adds the PAT and makes it a 35-0 game with :08 seconds left in the half.
Third quarter action starts with a running clock where Trinidad takes the kickoff and after five plays turns the ball over on downs. Four plays later Raton’s Mattorano throws one to Cannon Walton who then scampers 50 yards for another six with 4:39 on the clock. Hyer misses the PAT and leaves the score 41-0.
Trinidad takes it the ball into the fourth quarter where Raton’s Elijah Kenney picks off a Garcia pass. The Trinidad defense holds on and keeps Raton to a four and out. Trinidad takes over on the Raton 46 against the younger Raton boys on defense.
This time moving the ball down the field Matthew Garduno takes a Garcia pass and adds big yardage and sets up Trinidad to at the 20 and a chance for a score. Four plays later it’s a pass from Garcia to Joseph Padilla to and sets Trinidad up at the five. Corbin Popoff then pushes through the Raton defense and gives Trinidad their first score. They add the 2-point conversion to make it a 41-8 game with 1:15 left on the clock.
