by Marty Mayfield

Wild Finish to Regular Season Game

By Marty Mayfield

KRTN Multi-Media

Great defense in the first half kept the score in the single digits as the Tigers hosted undefeated rivals St. Mike’s Horseman Friday night in the Jungle. Second half play was a wild and raucous game.

The Raton defense came on strong and held the Horseman’s first drive to a few plays. The Horseman faked the punt to no avail and turned the ball over on downs at the 50-yard line. Five plays later Matt Ortiz scrambled, zigged and zagged his way 32 yards for six. The 2-point failed and Raton lead 6-0.

An offside penalty on the kickoff forced Raton back five and kind of set a tone of different for the rest of the game. St. Mikes went three and out on their next series and Raton took the punt at the 21. From there they chewed up ground on a penalty plagued drive that saw both teams commit the infractions. Raton a procedure and holding call and St Mikes a pass interference and offside call. Yet the drive ended in the end zone when Josh Carrasco picked off a Matt Ortiz pass and carried it to the 14.

St. Mikes ended the quarter and three plays later ended their drive when Luis Ruiz snatched a Louis Montoya pass at the 1-yard line and facemask penalty took it out to the 16. But its not over yet as Raton drives the field and breaks into the red zone only to see their hopes dashed when Alexander Saiz picks off a Matt Ortiz pass in the end zone.

The Raton defense however holds up and forces St Mikes to punt and Raton starts at the 38. Raton unfortunately becomes their worst enemy when a 25-yard pass play is called back on a hold and an 18-yard pass play is called back on an illegal block forcing Raton to punt.

St Mikes takes advantage of the situation and drives down inside the red zone but the Raton defense holds tough and St Mikes Santo Coppola boots one high and straight kick for a 27-yard field goal. Its now a 6-3 ball game and 26 seconds left in the half and to the surprise of many as St Mikes comes into the game not only undefeated but allowing their opponents very few points.

Second half action continues with different as Luis Ruiz gets smacked hard and looses the ball out near the 50 on the kickoff. St Mikes turns right around and Mark Hightree grabs a Louis Montoya pass at the Raton 33. Unable to do much Raton turns it over on downs at the 41.

St Mikes keeps it to the ground and chews up the yardage. A stubborn Raton defense holds St Mikes at the 2-yardline and turns it over on downs. To the dismay of Raton fans the Tigers fumble on the 8-yard line and St Mikes capitalizes when Salamon Montoya crosses the goal line for six. The Coppola PAT was good and it was now a 10-6 game with 2:35 left in the third.

Two plays later Josh Carrosco pulls in an Ortiz pass and rambles the 30 yards for another Horseman TD (6-17). The PAT is good and St Mikes has scored twice in less than a minute with 1:42 left on the clock in the third.

Raton carries the ball into the fourth quarter and another pass interception by Salamon Martinez at the Horseman 16 yard line dashes Tiger hopes of another score.

St Mikes drive again chews up ground and then the fireworks go off with a team brawl that occurred when Mackenzie Main sees movement and plows through the St Mikes line, seconds later both teams were being pulled apart by officials and coaches. When it is all said and done, after about a 10-minute break as officials conferred, two players are ejected George Marquez and #68 (not on the Roster) from St Mikes. The ball is now on the Raton 25 and St Mikes completes the drive with a Daniel Ortega run from the three. Coppola’s PAT is good and it’s a 24-6 score.

Raton goes three and out and St Mikes takes it the distance and finishes it off with an18 yard run by Salamon Martinez. PAT is good and it’s 6-31 with 4:25 on the clock.

Raton drives it down the field with purpose and bang Joaquin Garcia picks off an Ortiz pass at the 10 and an open field in front of him. 90 yards later it’s six more points for the Horseman. Coppola’s PAT is good and it’s a 6-38 game with only 1:28 left on the clock.

Game over the coaches try to pump up the boys telling them they played one heck of a game and the numbers on the scoreboard don’t tell the whole story at how close the game really was. Coach Walton felt the defense played one of their best games. It was the big plays that really hurt Raton like the two pass interceptions that resulted in touchdowns.

Raton will now wait to see if they will be on the 12 team bracket for the state tourney.

to see more game photos follow the link below

http://www.martymayfieldphoto.smugmug.com/