Second half boosts Cards

All three facets of Robertson’s game were clicking Friday night in the Cardinals’ 30-14 triumph over longtime district rival Raton.

Dave Kavanaugh/Optic photo

Dominic Lucero posted another big rushing effort for the Robertson football team Friday in a win over visiting Raton.

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The Cards’ dynamic duo in the backfield, Dominic Lucero and James Gonzales, each rushed for two touchdowns and combined for more than 200 yards on the ground.

The RHS defense had young players making a large impact as well.

J.R. Gonzalez was credited with a key fumble recovery and an interception returned deep into Tiger territory; in each case the Redbird offense went on to take advantage of the short field and get into the end zone. Francisco Arguello had a pick that also translated into offensive points. And in addition to tackles for loss from Nate Archuleta and Javier Trujillo, the most jarring hit of the night belonged to Lucero, whose tackle knocked Raton quarterback Toby Henson out of the game late in the opening quarter.

Robertson special teams also made plays that mattered. The Cardinals recovered a fumble on a Raton kickoff return late in the first half, and while the ensuing drive died on the Raton 13-yard line, it left the Tigers scant time — all of 30 seconds — to do anything more before halftime.

Later, the special teams came through again for Robertson (4-4), allowing an onside kick to bounce out of bounds in the late fourth quarter and helping to deny Raton’s late rally.

Coach Leroy Gonzalez and his squad travel to Taos (6-2) for a game likely to determine the District 2-3A championship, and the contest should have some impact on any state playoff seeding discussion.

On Friday, both defenses played keep-away through a scoreless first period. The Cardinals broke through once they got Lucero the ball out of a version of the Wildcat formation. The running back dashed 24 yards for a touchdown with 2:41 to go before halftime.

A Nathan L’Esperance 40-yard pass to Joe Armijo set up a 5-yard touchdown run by Gonzales with 1:22 left in the third, and Lucero’s 2-point conversion made it 14-0.

Arguello’s interception led to a 62-yard TD scamper by Lucero, and Archuleta ran in to make it 22-0.

Gonzales rushed for a 13-yard TD set up by Gonzalez’s long interception return in the last minute of the third quarter.

Raton (0-8) did strike back for two fourth-quarter touchdowns to make it a game.

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Robertson volleyball lost 25-21, 25-18, 25-14 at Raton on Saturday.