By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Raton’s old 3AAA rival Robertson Cardinals rumbled into the Jungle Friday evening September 19, 2025, for the second home game of the 2025 high school football season and began a defensive battle that finally lead to a 24-0 win over the Tigers.
In the first quarter it was one of those defensive battles that kept both teams out of the end zone. It was back and forth until 4:32 in the first quarter when Raton made it inside the Robertson 20 and attempted a field goal that Logan Elliott nailed but an offside penalty on Robertson negated the attempt. Elliott’s second shot was low and wide left to leave the score 0-0.
Later in the first quarter Raton’s Shane Ashley intercepts a Nathan Gonzales pass to give Raton another chance however the Robertson defense held and forced Raton to punt it away. The scoreless first quarter moves into the second quarter where Cardinal QB Gonzales puts one up to Brenen Deisler who takes it down to the Raton three. The Raton defense sacks Gonzales at the seven and then holds them scoreless until Brenen Deisler splits the uprights to give Robertson the first points of the game at 8:24 on the second quarter clock with a 3-0 lead.
Again it’s a back and forth game until Gonzales connects with Brenen Deisler who takes it to the 10 yard line. The Tiger defense held again and setup another field goal that Deisler shanked wide right to leave the score 3-0. The clock continued to run where Raton punted it away with only eight seconds on the clock. Robertson ended the half with a knee leaving the first half score 3-0.
Second half action continues with strong defensive play, Robertson moves down the field to the 20 however the yellow laundry flew moving Robertson back. Another Gonzales to Deisler pass finally moves the ball inside the Raton 10. Francisco Lopez takes it the nine yards for six. Deisler adds the PAT for a 10-0 score at 7:55 in the third.
An interception by Marcus Montoya ends the Raton drive and sets up another Robertson score from the Robertson 36. A 63 yard pass play to Elijah Ortiz adds six to the Robertson total. Deisler adds another PAT for a 17-0 game at 3:02 on the third quarter clock.
The fourth quarter begins with Robertson once again inside the 10 yard line where Andres Sanchez adds six from the seven. Deisler adds the PAT for a 24-0 score at 11:56 on the fourth quarter clock.
The game goes scoreless for the remainder of the fourth quarter with progress by both teams marred by the yellow flag and fumbles by both teams. As the final buzzer sounds Robertson goes to 4-1 on the season with Raton holding on to a 2-2 record. Raton will travel down the Interstate to take on another of their old 3AAA rivals in Santa Fe on Saturday afternoon at the home of the St Mikes Horseman who hold a 4-0 record on the season.
