Third Quarter Mistakes Trouble Raton

By Marty Mayfield

KRTN Multi-Media

            After last week’s electrifying weather delay and cancellation of the Raton, Albuquerque Academy game, this week was picture perfect football weather in the jungle as Raton hosted the Taos Tigers Friday night.

            Raton had a great first half of a ball game ending Taos’ first drive when Luis Ruiz intercepted a Kevin McCarty pass. Mark Hightree added 40-yards with a pass play and Seth Parker finished it with a 3-yard romp to pay dirt. The point after attempt fell short and left the score 6-0 Raton.

            Taos however countered and went 65 yards in 10 plays and ended the drive with a 34-yard romp by Isaac Gonzales. The PAT by Jacob Pacheco was good leaving Taos up by one 7-6.

            Raton’s next series was a short one that ended with a fumble being recovered by Taos’ Joaquin Medina on the Taos 30. Taos then moved up field but Mark Hightree found a McCarty pass and to end the first quarter. Raton however couldn’t convert and went three and out. Taos’ next drive also ended in a punt and an illegal block put Raton back to their own 17.

            The next Raton drive suffered from yellow flag syndrome as both teams suffered penalties. Raton however managed to work the ball down to the Taos six where Seth Parker again plowed through the line for six. He then added a 2-point conversion to make it 14-7 Raton.

            Taos wasn’t finished yet, Isaac Gonzales took the ball 42 yards around the end before he was run out of bounds. Taos however had to end the half without a score.

            Third quarter action started out with Luis Galindo intercepting a Toby Henson pass. Three plays later it was Isaac Gonzales taking it 39 yards for another Taos six. The PAT went wide and it was a 14-13 ball game.

            Raton ended its next series after two when Larry Martinez picked off and Henson pass and rambled 70 yards for six and Gonzales added two more for a 21-14 score.

            The remainder of the third quarter was a defensive struggle with Raton handing the ball over on downs to begin the fourth. The Raton defense held strong to force a Taos punt. Joaquin Medina however ended the Raton drive when he intercepted another pass giving Taos the ball on the Raton 30.

            Taos moved up field with the help of an unsportsman like penalty that was called on the coaches as the band was playing during a Taos play that took the ball to the Raton six. Andrew Maes took it in from the six and added six more for Taos. The Pacheco PAT was good with 3:51 left in the game.

            Mark Hightree and Luis Ruiz were both making great kickoff returns and this time Ruiz took it to the Raton 40. But three plays later Luis Galindo recovers a Raton fumble on the Raton 34. Raton held strong and Taos turned it over on downs at the Raton 31.

            Raton with only a couple of minutes on the clock took the ball and headed north. It was a 47-yard pass play to Mark Hightree who cut and ran about 35 yards of the play for six with only 2.3 seconds left on the clock. Henson split the uprights and made it a 21-28 game. Kevin McCarty took a knee to end the game.

            Coach Brock Walton felt the boys played one of their best games of the season for three quarters. No doubt Raton has had trouble playing four good quarters of football in a game. But when they do gel they make it look good.

            Raton will now travel south to Las Vegas to take on the Robertson Cardinals Friday night for another district match up. They will then host the West Las Vegas Dons for the final game of the regular season on November 2.

Taos' Luis Galindo gets a hand on a Toby Henson pass in the first quarter. Henson retaliated on the next play by scrambling 28 yards.

Mark Hightree turns around to pull in a Toby Henson pass Friday night in the Jungle against Taos.

Jordan Mendez just got a hand on Isaac Gonzales to bring him down before he broke free as he did often during the game Friday night in Raton.

Jonathan Cordova gets in front of Tyler Vertovec and almost grabs a Toby Henson pass late in the game Friday night.

Mark Hightree escapes the grasp of Devin Ortega and rambles the 30 more yards to pay dirt Friday night for the last Raton TD of the night.

Raton v Robertson Volleyball

C-Team
Rob 25. 20. 15
Rtn 23. 25. 10

JV
Rob. 12. 28. 8
Rtn  25. 26. 15

Varsity
Rob 21. 17. 13
Rtn. 25. 25. 25

Raton takes it in Three

By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media

Another mark goes into the win column for Raton varsity volleyball Tuesday evening as well as the JV team. The C-team took the match to three games before succumbing to the Red Birds.

The varsity match was a complete turn around from Thursday and Saturday where Raton fell short. Raton however at times struggled but was able to recover to make the win. Both Raton and Robertson at times had trouble with service and the slams tended to go long. Raton however stayed with it and worked out the kinks for the wins.

Raton will host Hope Christian Friday night and then travel to Taos on Saturday for a district match there.

Ashley Neurauter pushes it over the net during the C-team game Tuesday evening against Robertson

Leah Cimino gets up for the slam which garnered Raton another point during the JV game Tuesday evening.

Olivia Maes goes for the block as Breannon Trujillo gets high for the slam Tuesday evening in the Jungle Gym.

Hand to hand they go as Mikala Vertovec gets the block against Olivia Maes During the Varsity game Tuesday evening.

Coach Zack Romero strategizes with Kalista Dorrance (9) and Breannon Trujillo (8) during the second game with Robertson at Tiger Gym.

Breannon Trujillo makes the slam against Robertson Tuesday evening.

Shania Dorrance's slam falls a tad short as it hits the top of the net during the third game Tuesday evening in the Jungle Gym against Robertson's Alicia Arguello (8) and unlisted player

Elkettes handle Lady Tigers Saturday

Cteam
Pojoaque 25. 25
Raton  11. 17

Jv game
Pojoaque 25. 25
Raton. 12. 21

Varsity
Pojoaque 25. 25  25
Raton. 17. 23. 9

It was a tough match for all three Raton teams Saturday as they hosted the Elkettes for their second district match of the season.

All three teams started out slow except for the first varsity game where Raton started out on top and led until the Elkettes tied the game at 16 and then moved on for the win. The Raton girls seemed to be sluggish and their timing was off. There were several missed blocks that fell good for Elkette points.

Raton also had several slams that fell long outside the end line which gave Pojoaque the point and the serve. During game three Raton simply could not make it gel and quickly fell behind and only managed to score nine points.

Raton will now host Robertson on Tuesday October 16 at 4:00 p.m. for another district match. The Lady Tigers will have to find a way to bring things back together and return to the form they exhibited before district play started last week.

Alicia Pais makes the hit as Kristin Jansen looks on during the C-team game Saturday against Pojoaque

Rhiannon Trujillo chases the ball wide to keep it in play during the JV game in the Jungle Gym Saturday against Pojoaque

Courtney Harrison makes a big block against Micah Espinoza during the JV game Saturday.

Breannon Trujillo sets the ball as Makayla Mondragon heads for the net for the fake slam. Raton Usually takes the slam wide so they have the width of the court to work with.

Mikala Vertovec makes the slam against Pojoaque Saturday in the Jungle Gym

It was a tough match for the Lady Tigers as Kalista Dorrance slightly mistimes her jump for the block.

Breannon Trujillo makes the slam Saturday afternoon

Coach Zack Romero looks on as his team simply falls apart. Raton will not score any more points in this game (3) While the Elkettes will make a run on the score.

Two Pojoaque Elkettes go up for the block and as Kalista Dorrance goes for the push Saturday afternoon in the Jungle Gym.