Rattlers fall to Clayton

On paper, it appeared Tucumcari should have earned a relatively comfortable victory over Clayton in both teams' football opener on Friday night.

Instead, the visiting Yellowjackets made more big plays during a 20-12 decision over the host Rattlers, giving Clayton's Dakota Montoya a victory in his coaching debut.

Tucumcari coach Wayne Ferguson described it as a win that got away.

"I think we should have won by two touchdowns," he said.

The evidence made Ferguson's assessment hard to refute:

• Tucumcari outgained Clayton 219 to 87 in total yards;

• Clayton was flagged for 80 yards in penalties, compared to 31 for Tucumcari;

• Tucumcari drove four times into the red zone, or inside their opponent's 20-yard line, but scored just one touchdown;

• Clayton, with just 19 players on its roster, was wearing down from leg cramps amid 89-degree heat just before kickoff. Cramps also kept their starting quarterback, Jerome Padilla, sidelined for about one-third of the contest.

Instead, the Yellowjackets never trailed and essentially salted away the victory with a 50-yard fumble return for a touchdown with about six minutes left.

Montoya knew his team was fortunate.

"I think our boys showed a lot of heart," he said. "We're short-numbered as it is, and we had guys fighting through cramps, fighting through injuries that happen early in the year."

Tucumcari was led by halfback Charles Prieto, who ran for 78 yards in 14 carries and scored his team's only offensive touchdown. Jonathan Blea scored the Rattlers' other TD on an 18-yard interception return.

Clayton gained early momentum with a 1-yard touchdown run by Padilla on its first possession, set up by a 32-yard scamper by AJ Quintana. The Yellowjackets led 6-0 after the extra-point kick sailed wide.

Tucumcari tied it when Blea broke through the line and picked off a short Padilla pass. Blea rambled into the end zone untouched for the TD, making it 6-6 with 2:05 left in the first quarter. Fullback Khobie Salvador's two-point conversion rushing attempt was stopped for no gain, keeping the score tied.

Aided by strong running by Prieto and Jordan Pena, Tucumcari next drove inside Clayton's 17-yard line. Prieto fumbled at the 14 while being hit, and the Yellowjackets recovered.

Tucumcari had four turnovers and Clayton three, but Ferguson couldn't help but lament his team's miscues.

"We've got to take care of the football," he said.

Quintana scored on a 23-yard run and a two-point conversion with 1:30 left in the half for a 14-6 Clayton lead.

On the next series, Tucumcari quarterback Andrew Henderson-Clark completed a 36-yard pass to Nathan Griego, giving the Rattlers a first down at Clayton's 19.

With time rapidly expiring, the Rattlers tried a trick play with Pena at halfback throwing a pass into the side of the end zone. Isaac Quintana intercepted the throw to end the threat.

Ferguson didn't blame Pena for the turnover.

"He's been a quarterback before, and I don't worry about that turnover," he said. "We were in the red zone and running out of time. That's a physical mistake, not a mental mistake. I'll always take those over the mental mistakes."

Early in the second half, Prieto intercepted another Clayton pass near midfield. The Rattlers gave it back on the next play when Henderson-Clark fumbled a snap.

That play was indicative of Tucumcari's numerous players who lack experience, Ferguson said.

"We've got a lot of new players," he said. "We've got a lot of players who didn't play last year and lost a bunch to graduation. I've had only half my playbook in, and that really hurts. We're just taking baby steps right now."

Prieto set up his team's only offensive touchdown with a 26-yard punt return deep into Clayton territory, then scored on a 20-yard run up the sideline to make it 14-12. Henderson-Clark's potentially tying two-point conversion pass was intercepted.

Clayton lost a fumble near midfield, and Tucumcari marched inside the Yellowjackets' 17-yard line. The Rattlers ran a running play up the middle on fourth-and-short, but the Yellowjacket defenders stuffed fullback Salvador well short of the line of scrimmage.

"I had a couple of veteran lineman who didn't pick up their blocks, and the linebackers ran right by them and make the tackle right when we're trying to hand it off," Ferguson said.

Tucumcari got the ball back with more than six minutes left - plenty of time to score and take the lead. Henderson-Clark connected on a pass to Griego at midfield, but a Clayton defender hit him hard and knocked the ball loose. Yessiah Avila scooped up the fumble and returned it 50 yards for a 20-12 lead.

The Rattlers had time to mount a game-tying drive. But their chances ended on a penalty, two short run plays and two incomplete passes that led to a turnover of downs. Clayton then ran four plays to run out the clock.

Tucumcari's next opponent is at 2 p.m. Saturday at Albuquerque Academy, which blasted Tohatchi 50-0 on Friday in a game shortened by the mercy rule.