It was unlike any other Homecoming for the Raton Tiger football team as it happened earlier than ever, it happened on Saturday night instead of Friday, and it was the home opener. Plus to add even more importance, it had the coveted Coal Bucket at stake when the Trinidad Miners came over the pass on September 6th with Raton retaining possession of the trophy for the ninth year in a row after a 48 – 14 victory.
Temperatures were in the mid sixties at kickoff with a full moon shining down on the Jungle and the American Flag hanging limp for the game and the strains of the National Anthem still echoing for the kickoff. It was a perfect night for football as everything went right for the Tigers and in less than 15 seconds after the kickoff, Raton’s Cael Walton would streak down the far sideline with the ball for a 90 yard TD and Logan Elliott’s extra point made it 7 – 0 with 11:44 remaining.
Trinidad’s first possession reached the 50 yard line helped by a Raton facemask penalty, then stalled. On fourth down the snap was wide and the punter’s scramble came up short of the line to gain, so Raton took over on their own 46 yard line for their second possession. QB Azden Romero went back to pass on 2nd and 14 and found Shane Ashley with a perfect pass for a 40 yard TD and Raton lead 14 – 0 with over half of the first quarter left on the clock. There wouldn’t be much more time till the Raton faithful would sing the school song again as Trinidad fumbled and Raton took over at the Miner 26 yard line. Two plays later Raton’s Luciano Castillo would take a short pass from Romero and would not be denied while scampering for a 20 yard TD and it was 21 – 0 with 6:28 still left in the first.
Raton’s defense forced Trinidad to punt again, and again a bad snap, gave Raton excellent field position. Then on third and 15, Romero would hit Luciano Castillo again for another 20 yard scoring toss and with 4:49 left in the first Raton’s lead was 28-0.
Raton’s defense forced the Miners to punt again and took over on their own 40, and on first down Cael Walton took the handoff and went up the middle broke outside and out ran all the defenders and was ahead of the pursuit by 20 yards when crossing the goal line, scoring a 60 yard TD to push a continuous clock while still in the first period and led 35 – 0.
The second quarter had Raton scoring on a long drive that was sustained by two offside penalties against Trinidad and with only 20 seconds left in the half Romero got his fourth passing TD by finding Elijah Kenney who fought his way across the goal line and the Tigers were up 42 – 0.
Trinidad got its first score in the third period with Xavier Garcia taking the pitch and going round right end for a 30 yard TD run. A two point conversion run by QB Moreno put the game’s score at 42 – 8.
The second Trinidad score came as Raton was poised to score again, but a 100 yard pick six score for Isaiah Moreno after he picked off a Braylon Walton pass.
Walton got the score back though in the fourth as Raton’s Justice Romero would score on a 20 yard connection from the freshman.
Raton had nine seniors playing there last Homecoming game as a Tiger including Shane Ashley, Santiago Castillo, Logan Elliott, Elijah Kenney, Eddie Lawrence, Braxton Longwill, Christoval Ortega. Thomas Pacheco, and Azden Romero.
With the win, Raton’s record goes to 2 – 1. The Tigers will have a bye week next week and then will take on Las Vegas Robertson at home on Sept. 19..
