The Raton Tiger offense survived three turnovers and the defense traveled well by recovering a fumble in the fourth quarter and intercepting a pass in their own end zone with 90 seconds left to preserve a 21 – 18 win over the Tucumcari Rattlers in Friday night District 2AA competition on October 10th.
The Raton defense also set up the game’s first score as Harlem Corley intercepted a Nick Goen pass on the fifth play of the game and returned it to the Rattlers four yard line. Then on first and goal, QB Braylon Walton lofted a scoring pass to Jayden Padilla and with the Logan Elliott PAT, Raton lead 7-0.
It took Tucumcari less than 15 seconds to answer, as senior Damion Urioste took the kickoff back 75 yards, but Goen’s 2 point PAT run was stuffed by the Raton D. The 2 point PAT was one of three ultimately that were turned back by the Tiger Defense, so Raton’s lead was 7 – 6 early in the contest.
Raton then put together a 10 play 70 yard drive with Cael Walton breaking tackles to give Raton a first and goal at the Rattler five. Getting his first start after being pressed into service after a season-ending shoulder injury to Azden Romero, freshman Braylon Walton, rifled a 5 yard scoring strike to Luciano Castillo and the visitors had a 14 – 6 advantage with 4:19 left in the first.
Tucumcari’s Jeremy Jones intercepted for the home team near the end of the 1st quarter and the Rattlers ensuing drive stalled on a fourth and long inside the Raton 20 with an incomplete pass in the end zone. On Raton’s next possession, they too had a fourth down incompletion turn the ball over near midfield and Tucumcari capitalized after a long completion to Urioste, Louis Archuleta had a 9 yard TD catch with 5:37 left in the half making it a 14 – 12 Raton lead.
On Raton’s next possession, Tucumcari’s Joe Salas intercepted near midfield and they marched down the field to take the lead on an Eric Acosta 9 yard TD run with 2:14 left in the first half, 18 – 14.
After a scoreless third, Tucumcari recovered a Raton fumble on the first play of the 4th quarter, but then gave it right back near midfield as Colt Ayon recovered with 7:27. Aided by two personal foul penalties, one on the Tucumcari sidelines and an ejection of a Tucumcari player, Raton’s Cael Walton became the workhorse for Raton getting the ball to a first and goal from the seven to be followed by a Luciano Castillo touchdown run for a 21 – 18 lead late in the fourth.
Tucumcari began their final drive deep in their own territory after a helmet-to-helmet targeting penalty. Two long pass completions to Urioste had the Rattlers first and ten at the Raton 13. After Jayden Padilla had a tackle for a loss Urioste came back in and caught a completion to give Tucumcari a first and goal on the 2 yard line. A bad exchange, two incompletions and on 4th and goal Raton’s Shane Ashley stepped in front of a pass and intercepted to give Raton their first district win.
Raton travels to Capitan next Friday night for another District 2AA game. Kick-off at 7 pm with audio on 93.9 FM and streaming on FaceBook.
