Flags 'killed' Rattler game

Tucumcari’s coach could have come up with several reasons the Rattlers lost a back-and-forth 28-26 game Friday night at Escalante that wasn’t decided until the last minute.

But he directed most of his ire on his team drawing untimely flags from the officials.

“We killed ourselves with penalties,” Tucumcari head coach Wayne Ferguson said.

Tucumcari was flagged eight times for 65 yards against the Lobos, a small-school power that’s won three state titles since 2012.

The Rattlers lost a 58-yard touchdown run by Seth Martinez early in the second half due to a holding call. Most damaging, however, was a personal-foul penalty on a chop block with less than a minute left after Tucumcari had marched deep into Escalante territory, bidding for a go-ahead score. The flag led to a third-and-long situation. On the Rattlers’ next two plays, quarterback Alijah Jimenez was sacked, then threw an incomplete pass to all but end the game.

The loss spoiled a terrific performance from running back Martinez, who ran for 117 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries. Robbie Hartmann also ran for 67 yards and a TD on 13 carries for the Rattlers. Jimenez completed 6 of 12 passes for 91 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver Gerardo Villa-Vargas caught four of those passes for 91 yards and a TD.

Ferguson saw good and bad with his defense, which forced four turnovers but allowed 297 yards rushing by the Lobos.

“Anytime you play a team that runs read-option and you can meet the running back and quarterback at the same time, you can cause fumbles,” Ferguson said of the Rattlers’ defense. “But we had some inopportune responsibility breakdowns. We stress to the kids it takes all of them playing their responsibilities. It seemed like when one wasn’t doing it, it was right where they were running the ball.”

The Rattlers defense also mostly stifled Escalante’s passing game. But on the one pass the Lobos completed, it came on a crucial fourth-and-8 situation late in the fourth quarter to keep a drive going for the go-ahead touchdown. Ferguson said on that play, the Lobos employed a formation they hadn’t used, keeping the Rattler defenders off-balance. The Rattlers and Lobos played through a scoreless first quarter.

Ferguson expressed disappointment his Rattlers didn’t get their offense percolating as the Lobos struggled.

“It took us too long to get going,” he said. “I’m guessing we were timid. We’re young on the line, with four sophomores and one junior. After that, we did some good.”

Escalante drew first blood with a 1-yard touchdown run by Esteban Archuleta late in the second quarter, then scored the two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead.

Seconds later, Martinez used his speed to answer with a 77-yard touchdown run. The extra-point attempt was no good, leaving the score 8-6.

Tucumcari took its first lead when Jimenez connected with Villa-Vargas for a 22-yard touchdown pass. The extra point failed again, giving Tucumcari a 12-8 lead.

Archuleta opened the third quarter with a 1-yard TD run, plus a James Garcia kick, for a 15-12 Lobos lead. Archuleta scored again on a 15-yard run, plus a Garcia kick, to fatten Escalante’s lead to 22-12.

Martinez scored his second TD with a 20-yard run late in the third quarter. The extra-point attempt failed, leaving Escalante with a 22-18 lead.

Tucumcari regained the lead with 7:22 left when Hartmann scored on 1-yard run. Martinez scored the 2-point conversion, giving the Rattlers a 26-22 advantage.

Anthony Ulibarri scored on a 1-yard run with 2:39 left, giving the Lobos a 28-26 lead that ultimately would hold.

Tucumcari’s next game is its home opener at 7 p.m. Friday against Albuquerque Academy. Kevin Carroll is in his 30th year of coaching the Chargers.