Tigers Keep First Half Close

By Marty Mayfield

KRTN Multi-Media

            First and foremost it was good news after a scare early in the first quarter when Raton QB Toby Henson went down on a play and was taken by ambulance to the hospital with possible neck or back injuries. Thankfully tests showed Toby to be a bit battered with no major injuries. Hurry back Toby.

It was a cold blustery night in Las Vegas that set the stage for a close first half ballgame between Raton and Robertson High Friday night.

            As the buzzer sounded to end the first half of play both teams headed for the warmth of the locker rooms with a six-point difference on the scoreboard. Robertson was leading the game 6-0 after they finally scored late in the second quarter after a 90-yard drive ended with a Nathan Lesperance 7-yard rumble. The PAT failed with 2:41 left on the clock.

            Raton fumbled the kickoff but the defense held on strong and forced Robertson to turn it over on downs, Raton QB Cam Baird took a knee to end the half. First quarter action saw several yellow flags fly and that pace continued throughout the evening as both teams were hitting hard and playing strong defense. The cold also played a factor holding on to the ball and resulted in fumbles.

             Third quarter action continued where the second had left off with battering defensive play by both teams. Robertson recovered a Raton fumble at their 23 and moved down field. A 35-yard pass play took the ball to the five where Lesperance took it in and Dominic Lucero plowed in for the 2-point conversion. Fransico Arguello picked off a Cam Baird pass and a 62-yard run by Dominic Lucero added six more with 54 seconds on the clock. Nathan Archuleta took it in for the 2-point to make it 22-0.

            Another pass interception this time by J.R. Gonzalez and a personal foul took the ball to the Raton 14. Lesperance again took it 13 yards for six he then added the 2-point conversion to make it 30-0.

            Go Raton as they finally began to cook and took it 70 yards ending the drive with a 34-yard pass play to Mark Hightree for six. Hightree added the 2-point for a 40-8 game with 7:40 on the clock.

            Seth Parker recovered a Robertson fumble on the 48. From there Raton finished the 2-play drive with a 36-yard pass play to Caleb Wood. The 2-point conversion failed and left the score 14-30 with 3:38 left in the game. Robertson then played ball control to end the game.

            Coach Brock Walton told KRTN after the game he was proud at how his team played even having to make the changes for backup quarterback Cam Baird who stepped in after Toby Henson was injured. This is Baird’s first year back on the field since his 8^th grade play, he is now a junior.

It was noted that Robertson coach Leroy Gonzalez told Walton that eight plays is all it took to change the Raton standings. He felt the Tigers are still a team to be dealt with and that only eight plays is what made the difference.

Raton will host West Las Vegas Friday night for their final district game of the regular season.

           

Cam Baird came into the game after Toby Henson was injured. Toby is reported to be a bit banged up but otherwise okay with no major injuries.

Dominic Lucero stretches it out over the line for six as Robertson started a scoring spree late in the third quarter.

Fumbles troubled both teams, here Mark Hightree manages to regain control of the ball as he started up field.

Mark Hightree pulls it down to get Raton close late in the game Friday night in Las Vegas.