Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Raton made sure Tucumcari’s potent passing didn’t go wild as it did the previous week.
The Tigers stifled the Rattlers’ air attack for most of the game and seized a three-touchdown lead that stood up during a 51-25 district victory Friday at Raton’s Homecoming.
Tucumcari quarterback Nick Goen, who amassed more than 350 yards passing and six touchdowns during the previous week against Estancia, managed just 101 yards on 15-of-29 passing with one touchdown and two interceptions against Raton.
Tigers defense flooded the deep zones and kept the Rattlers from completing deep passes for much of the contest.
“They were very well prepared for our offense,” THS coach Doug South said. “We had to at halftime regroup a little bit. We pretty well matched up with them in the second half. It's just the first half (with slow starts) is always our issue.”
All of Tucumcari’s scoring came in the fourth quarter, when both teams rang up a total of 55 points.
Daymion Urioste caught four passes for 75 yards and a touchdown and scored another TD on a 98-yard kickoff return for the Rattlers. Luis Archuleta caught seven passes for 40 yards and added a 70-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
THS backup quarterback Alijah Martinez, inserted into the game in the fourth quarter, went 2-of-4 passing for 53 yards and a touchdown. Eric Acosta added three receptions for 24 yards and a TD.
Tucumcari fell to 2-5 overall and 1-1 in district play.
“It was a disappointing game because we thought we could compete with them,” South said, “and we knew that if we had won that game, we'd be guaranteed a playoff spot. It's still a possibility, but we would have controlled our own fate.”
Raton improved to 3-4 and 1-1 in district.
Raton running back Joseph Saenz totaled more than 190 yards rushing and receiving and scored two touchdowns. Tigers quarterback Azden Romero went 11-of-21 passing for 200 yards and two touchdowns. Cael Walton scored two touchdowns and saw two others nullified due to penalties.
Raton won despite losing three fumbles and being penalized for 109 yards.
Tucumcari didn’t do much better with the yellow flags; the Rattlers were penalized nine times for 92 yards.
But the Tigers controlled the game’s pace with their running game, totaling 165 yards rushing, compared to 24 for Tucumcari.
Raton scored on its first possession, going 50 yards on five plays after a 28-yard kick return gave the Tigers a shorter field. Romero scored on 1-yard run.
The Tigers increased their lead to 14-0 early in the second period on a 15-play, 58-yard drive. Saenz scored on 1-yard run.
Raton made it 21-0 late in the third quarter when receiver Wyatt Berry outjumped the defense and caught a 27-yard TD pass from Romero.
Aided by two Raton penalties, Tucumcari got on the board early in the fourth quarter when Acosta caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Goen, who also kicked the extra point to make it a 21-7 margin.
Raton answered almost immediately, Saenz caught a 20-yard pass, and Tucumcari was penalized 15 yards for grabbing his face mask during the tackle. That set up Berry scoring on a 15-yard run for a 28-7 Raton lead with 10 minutes left.
The Tigers increased their advantage to 34-7 when Walton scored on a 28-yard run with 7:40 left.
Martinez came in to play quarterback for the Rattlers. On his second play, a shotgun snap sailed over his head into the end zone. He recovered it there to prevent a defensive touchdown, but Raton scored a safety to make it 36-7.
Chase Middlebrook caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Romero to make it a 43-7 Raton lead with 6:28 left. Berry’s 51-yard kickoff return set up the score.
On the subsequent kickoff, it appeared Urioste might be tackled near the goal line, but he burst through the middle and went 98 yards for the score. That narrowed the gap to 43-13 with 6:10 left.
Tucumcari recovered a fumble at Raton’s 46-yard line. On the next play, Martinez found Urioste for a 46-yard touchdown pass with 2:52 remaining. That made it 43-19.
Berry made another big kickoff return to Tucumcari’s 12, setting up Saenz’s TD run on the next play for a 51-19 lead.
On the subsequent kickoff return, Urioste threw a lateral across the field to Archuleta, who raced 70 yards down the right side for a touchdown with 2:13 left. That made it 51-25.
After Raton gained a first down in the red zone during its next possession, it elected to take a knee and run out the clock.
Tucumcari will host district foe and longtime rival Santa Rosa at 7 p.m. Friday. The Lions (4-3) blasted winless Estancia 54-0 on Friday.