33-8 Win crowns homecoming week

By Marty Mayfield

KRTN Multi-Media

            It was a defensive battle throughout the first half, back and forth up and down the field before the Tigers caught a break, found a hole in the Elk defense and Matt Ortiz hit Troy Hall for a 44 yard pass play that scored Raton’s first TD and set the tone for the rest of the Homecoming game.

            As the game wore on the playbook was wide open with Raton going to the air and the Elks staying on the ground. Fumbles on key plays turned the ball over and even a fake punt that resulted in a first down for Pojoaque still couldn’t bring the spark to start the fire the Elks needed.

            Pojoaque again turned over the ball on downs with a 1:14 left in the half and goose eggs on the scoreboard, Raton headed up the field. With just over 40 seconds left Matt Ortiz found Troy Hall and he managed sidestep a tackle and find a hole with blocking and down the field for a 44 yard pass play that found the end zone. Jordan Darras made the PAT and Raton went into halftime up 7-0.

            The second half of this game was nothing like the first half as the Elks bad luck would continue with a fumble at the Raton 25 on their first series which Raton capitalized on with another pass play this time to Devon Casias for 64 yards and another six. The PAT was wide right and left the score at 13-0.

            Jesus Urquidi muffed the kickoff and the ball came out to the 20. It was three and out and Raton took the punt with a penalty for illegal use of hands and started at the 40. On the ground with big George Marquez and Jon Mark Atwater, in the air to Devon Casias and Mark Hightree Raton ended this drive with a 20-yard pass play to Hightree for six. A failed PAT and it was 19-0 at 1:57 in the quarter.

            The third quarter ended for the Elks when Dylon Aragon picked off a Louie Martinez pass with 4 seconds on the clock. Two personal foul penalties on the play however set Raton back another 30 yards. Coach Brock Walton later said that when you play aggressive and don’t let up these things can happen and our boys didn’t make the infractions on purpose.

            Raton however overcame the penalties and this time it was a 7-yard pass play to Casias for six more. Darras’ PAT was good and Raton pulled out to 26-0.

            The next Elk series ended with another pass interception by Mark Hightree. On the 2-yard line Raton’s Jeramy Armijo playing as a running back on this play simply bulldozed over the line for six, the PAT was good and it was Raton 33-0.

            With the younger players in on defense for Raton to get them some playing time the Elks managed to get a TD with a 9-yard run by Mario Urquidi. Urquidi was also credited with punching the ball through on the 2-point try and it was 33-8 with 7:10 on the clock.

            The defense continued its dominance in the game. With Raton’s underclassmen at the helm the Tigers went three and out. The Elks moving down the field suffered another pass interception by Jordon Mendez. Raton ran out the clock to end a successful homecoming week with a win over the 5-0 Elks.

            Coach Brock Walton told students and parents at the homecoming assembly earlier in the day that he wouldn’t guarantee a win but would say that this would be one of Raton’s best-played games of the season. The Elks came into the game with a 5-0 record and much improved team over past years.

            Raton came into the season with a young and inexperienced team, Walton knew he had his work cut out and often expressed that this team would only get better with experience. With the first part of the season now behind them Raton will have a week off and then start play at the district level at Taos.

Brandon Baker wraps up Louie Martinez who looses the ball and Raton recovers the fumble Friday night 

Troy Hall slows up Martinez long enough for help to arrive and create a loss on the play 

Dylon Aragon ends another Elk Drive when he picks off a Louie Martinez pass