A football player in an orange-and-black uniform lunges forward with the ball while two football players in red-and-white uniforms hang from his arm and legs.

Bulldogs suffer first district loss

Brienne Green

October 19, 2024

PICTURED: Frankie Galindo powers through the Roswell defense and over the goal line during the fourth quarter Friday at Bulldog Bowl.
(Photo Courtesy Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)

The Artesia High School football team saw a 12-point lead going into the fourth quarter disappear by game's end Friday at Bulldog Bowl, suffering their first District 2-AAAAA loss to Roswell High, 44-40.

The Coyotes were able to take an early lead in the contest with the help of a pair of Bulldog turnovers.

During Artesia's first offensive series of the night, Roswell returned an interception from midfield to the Bulldog 13 before scoring on a 16-yard pass from Jacob Palomino to Jaylon Cloud. The 'Dogs would answer back on a 19-yard TD pass from Izac Cazares to Jack Byers, who secured the over-the-shoulder grab at the 5:39 mark, but a missed conversion attempt kept the Coyotes up by one. Roswell would then log another INT in their own red zone to set up a seven-yard touchdown run by Xai Carrasco -- who also delivered his own conversion run -- that made it 15-6 RHS four minutes into the second quarter.

A football player in an orange-and-black uniform runs into an orange end zone with the ball.

PICTURED: Jack Byers brings in a 19-yard touchdown pass.
(Photo Courtesy Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)

Artesia fired back just 15 seconds later on a massive 61-yard pass from Cazares to Frankie Galindo, but another conversion attempt came up short, leaving Roswell in the lead by three, 15-12. And with the remaining 7:51 of the half turning out to be a defensive battle, that score would hold at intermission.

A football player in an orange-and-black uniform holds the ball in the air as he runs into the end zone.

PICTURED: Frankie Galindo hits the end zone with a 61-yard reception.
(Photo Courtesy Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)

The Bulldogs came out strong in the third quarter, with Marco Soto recovering a Coyote fumble on the kickoff and the offense scoring on its first play from scrimmage: a 35-yard sprint by Cazares that gave Artesia its first lead of the night, 19-15, following the Corbyn Dominguez PAT. The Coyotes briefly reclaimed the lead, 22-19, on a 27-yard run by Carrasco, but Artesia would charge back in front on a 25-yard TD pass from Cazares to Trent Egeland and successful conversion run from Diego Lopez. After the Orange Crush forced a quick Coyote punt, the Bulldogs made it 34-22 going into the fourth on a 28-yard fumble recovery and TD run by Bryce Parra.

A football player in an orange-and-black uniform catches the ball directly in front of his face.

PICTURED: Trent Egeland looks the ball in for a 25-yard score.
(Photo Courtesy Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)

A football player in an orange-and-black uniform runs down the field with the football extended in front of him as his teammates cheer from the sideline.

PICTURED: Bryce Parra heads across the goal line with the 28-yard score.
(Photo Courtesy Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)

Just when it looked as if the momentum might be swinging heavily in Artesia's direction, however, Roswell High followed a 10-yard touchdown run by Carrasco with a recovery of a botched reception on the ensuing KO and subsequent go-ahead score by Cloud from 21 yards out.

The Coyotes' rally didn't end there, with another 10-yard run by Carrasco making it 44-34 with 6:09 to go in the game. Artesia was able to pull back within four on a three-yard TD run by Galindo out of the speed option at the 4:36 mark, but a blocked PAT left them in need of another touchdown to go ahead.

The Crush was able to force a Roswell punt with 3:24 remaining to set the offense up at the Coyote 41, but the Bulldogs were unable to move the ball. A turnover on downs with 2:17 on the clock and subsequent RHS first down allowed the Coyotes to run out the clock on their 44-40 win.

With the loss, the Bulldogs dropped to 5-3, 4-1, while Roswell improved to 6-1, 4-1. Artesia will travel to Wool Bowl Friday, Oct. 25, for a 7 p.m. game against Goddard (2-6, 1-4). The Rockets fell to Mayfield Friday, 28-20.

SCORING SUMMARY

FIRST QUARTER
• Roswell- Jaylon Cloud 16-pass from Jacob Palomino (Francisco Lara kick good), 9:47
• Artesia- Jack Byers 19-pass from Izac Cazares (run fails), 5:39
SECOND QUARTER
• Roswell- Xai Carrasco 7-run (Carrasco run good), 8:06
• Artesia- Frankie Galindo 61-pass from Cazares (pass fails), 7:51
THIRD QUARTER
• Artesia- Cazares 35-run (Corbyn Dominguez kick good), 11:50
• Roswell- Carrasco 27-run (Lara kick good), 9:26
• Artesia- Trent Egeland 25-pass from Cazares (Diego Lopez run good), 3:21
• Artesia- Bryce Parra 27-run (Dominguez kick good), :51
FOURTH QUARTER
• Roswell- Carrasco 10-run (Lara kick good), 10:57
• Roswell- Cloud 21-run (Keegan Nichols run good), 10:45
• Roswell- Carrasco 10-run (Lara kick good), 6:09
• Artesia- Galindo 3-run (kick blocked), 4:36