Estancia Outlasts Raton 40-39

ESTANCIA, N.M. — Joshua Villafuerte pulled up on a trick-play sweep and delivered a 7-yard touchdown pass to Michael Murray through double coverage with 31 seconds remaining, lifting Estancia to a wild 40-39 victory over Raton on Friday night.

In an explosive showdown featuring seven combined touchdowns of 30 or more yards, the Bears (4-1) emptied their playbook in the final minute to edge the Tigers (2-3).

Facing a five-point deficit late, Estancia head coach Scott Burnett turned to a gadget play his team rehearses every Thursday — a halfback “down counter pass.”

“I was out of ideas. We had pounded the ball about as much as we could,” Burnett said. “I just told him, ‘Guys, this is why we do that. Moments like this. Roll the dice.’ They were so keyed up on what we were doing. We went all-in on this, and it hits or it don’t.”

Villafuerte executed the disguise to perfection, freezing Raton’s defense on an end-around action before finding Murray in the end zone to cap the dramatic comeback.

Murray also caught a 31-yard touchdown pass earlier in the second half from the Bears’ quarterback, who carried the bulk of the offensive load for Estancia. He racked up touchdown runs of 35, 72, 65, and 65 yards, while also having another 51-yard scoring dash nullified by a penalty in the third quarter.

Raton answered Estancia blow-for-blow behind explosive playmaker Cale Walton. Walton scored on touchdown runs of 85, 65, and 6 yards, while hauling in scoring strikes of 67 and 79 yards from quarterback Braylon Walton.

Raton held a 27-21 advantage at halftime after Braylon Walton connected with Gage Alford on a 51-yard touchdown strike. Estancia snatched the lead early in the third quarter when Estancia’s quarterback broke free for his second 65-yard score and converted the two-point pass to Villafuerte.

After Cale Walton hauled in a 79-yard touchdown pass to push the Tigers back ahead 33-28, Estancia defender Brian Carreon made a pivotal stop on Raton’s two-point conversion rush. The Bears’ quarterback briefly answered with his touchdown pass to Murray to make it 34-33, but Cale Walton punched in a 6-yard run with 4:47 remaining in the fourth quarter to put Raton ahead 39-34.

The Bears tightened up defensively down the stretch, aided by a fumble recovery from Russell Acosta and a critical interception by Villafuerte, before setting up the game-winning drive.

Burnett credited his sophomore-heavy core for staying composed under late-game pressure.

“When I tell you that this sophomore group of kids might be the best group of kids we’ve ever had, I don’t say that lightly,” Burnett said. “Our quarterback is an absolute monster. Our entire offensive line, except for our center, is sophomores. They’re ahead of schedule, and they’re just a special group.”