The Raton Tiger football team found themselves down 21 points as the fourth quarter began against Hozho Academy in Gallup in the 2A Quarterfinals on Saturday, November 15. But, the Tigers roared back scoring three touchdowns in the final 8 minutes, but the 2 point PAT for both of the last two touchdowns fell incomplete and the comeback was just short 49 – 47.
It looked bad for the Tigers from the start, as Cross Malcom intercepted a deflected pass on the games third play and the Wolves took over on the Raton 13. After a Colt Ayon sack for Raton, Senam Agboka went wide to give Hozho a first and goal from the one. After a scare of a recovered fumble, and on a second and goal, Brandon Bonaguidi pushed it over the line and then added the extra point for a 7 – 0 lead with 9:04 left in the first.
Raton’s second possession was almost another disaster, but Shane Ashley was able to pounce on a fumble near midfield. Raton drove to the Wolf’s 30, but a forth down pass fell incomplete. It didn’t take Hozho long to score as it took them only 4 plays to go 69 yards with Bonaguidi scrambling the final 22 yards for a 14-0 lead with 3:35 left still in the first.
Raton took over at their own 35 after the kickoff and after a couple of penalties found themselves first and 20 from that point. Raton’s brain trust didn’t panic and neither did QB Braylon Walton the freshman faked a pass to Cael Walton and then lofted a pass that Luciano Castillo ran down and didn’t stop running till 65 yards later for a quick six. After the Logan Elliott PAT, the 14 -7 score closed out the first period scoring.
In the second quarter, Raton’s defense stopped Hozho and made them punt. The momentum quickly shifted back to the home team though as Raton again fumbled inside their own red zone and the Wolves took advantage on the very next play for a 19 yard scoring pass to Abraham Azua. Hozho’s lead was 21 – 7 with 10:53 left in the first half.
Raton’s next possession had an unsporstmanlike conduct followed by a block in the back penalty that negated a run of nearly 50 yards for Walton. After the punt, Raton relied on their defense and the unit held Hozho as Jadyn Padilla, playing hurt with a hamstring pull, sacked Bonaguidi and Raton took over on their own 34.
A dose of Cael Walton and Harlem Coley on the ground with Coley, another freshman talent, taking it the final six yards and made it a one score game 21 – 14 with 5:03 left in the first half.
There would be two more scores before the horn sounded to end the first half. Raton’s defense again stymied HozHo’s offense and made them punt. Big chunks of ground for Raton on the ground as Cael Walton’s 39 yard gain set the stage for a quick 37 yard TD run for Coley as the Raton offensive line parted the Hozho defense like Moses parting the seas and Coley was untouched to tie the game at 21 with 2:18 left in the half.
That was enough time, though for Hozho to mount a 13 play drive, which included a fake punt conversion, a fourth and four conversion and overcoming a procedure penalty as Kaleb Bowannie caught a Bonaguidi 22 yard scoring pass. Bonaguidi kicked what amounted to a 35 yard PAT after an unsporstmanlike conduct penalty was assessed on the PAT and with only :20 left in the half, Hozho forged backed ahead 28-21.
Hozho received the second half kickoff and on the first play from scrimmage, it didn’t take long for Bowannie to haul in a 65 yard scoring strike to put the Wolves back up by 14.
Raton’s next possession was a turnover on downs from the 41 on an unsuccessful Wildcat play. Hozho then reeled off seven plays with Bowannie catching his third straight scoring TD on a 3rd and 10 from the Raton 14 putting the score 42 – 21 with 6:57 left in the third.
On the ensuing kickoff, Raton’s Shane Ashley gave Raton great field position and the Tigers used a little over three minutes and on the seventh play of the drive, Luciano Castillo grabbed a 4 yard TD pass from Walton and pulled it back to a 14 point game with 3:45 left in the third.
Hozho then used up the rest of the clock in the third and a chunk of the fourth with a 15 play drive that includud overcoming a 2nd and 35 on their own 9 yardline and Cross Malcom’s 13 yard TD reception put Hozo back up by 21 at 49 – 28.
The Wolves would need every point as Raton refused to fold and Cael Walton had a kick return to the 45 and then took in a 45 yard scoring pass to make it 49 -35 with 8:09 left in the game.
After an unsuccessful on side kick attempt, Raton’s defense again stopped the Hozho offense and took over on their own 21 after the punt. Cael Walton moved the first down chains twice in a row with a pass reception and a then a 14 yard run. Then Luciano Castillo catches a 39 yard pass to the Wolves 10 and then on a third and goal, Coley gets his third TD with a 4 yard punch in. After an offside flag against Hozho, Raton attempted a two point conversion with Cael Walton in the Wildcat formation throwing a pass that was incomplete leaving the score at 49 – 41 with 3:22 left in the game.
The Raton defense has been one of the best in the state all year, and was up to the task as Jadyn Padilla tackles the ball carrier for a loss making Hozho punt on a three and out and Cael Walton setting up the Tigers with a punt return to the 49 yard line. Two more Walton runs and two more Coley runs including a 9 yard TD rumble moved the score to 49 – 47. The 2-point PAT attempt was a play action pass that also fell incomplete.
The onside kick attempt was unsuccessful as Hozho recovered on the 49 yard line and Raton was without any timeouts left, so with 1:14 left Hozho knelt their way into next weeks semi-finals against #1 seed Texico.
