A high school football player in a black-and-orange uniform steps over the goal line just ahead of an opponent in a white-and-green uniform.

The boys are back: 'Dogs returning to 5A championship game

Brienne Green

November 23, 2024

Enjoy the Thanksgiving meal next week, but save some room for dessert: Your Bulldogs are back in the state championship game.

With a dominant 50-14 victory over #6 Mayfield Saturday at Bulldog Bowl, the second-ranked 'Dogs rolled on into the Class 5A title tilt, and the rematch that awaits certainly won't feel like leftovers. For the second consecutive year, it'll be Artesia-Roswell High for the blue trophy, and the boys in orange have their sights firmly set on a threepeat.

Mayfield employed much the same strategy as Lovington in the early goings of Saturday's state semifinal at the Bowl, removing eight minutes from the first-quarter clock amidst a drive that ultimately ended in a turnover on downs forced by the Orange Crush defense. The Big Orange offense wasn't fazed, however, needing just one play to log their first touchdown of the afternoon: a blazing 75-yard run by senior Frankie Galindo that put Artesia up 7-0 with 3:53 to go in the opening period.

A high school football player in a black-and-orange uniform carries the ball as a teammate follows along behind him.
PICTURED: Frankie Galindo covers the final few yards of his 75-yard TD run as Bryce Parra (27) provides an escort.
(Photo Courtesy Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)

That score would hold through quarter's end, after the Crush forced yet another Mayfield TOD. But on the first play of the second, QB Izac Cazares kept the track meet going with an 89-yard touchdown run that saw the senior pick apart the Trojan defense before outrunning his final would-be tacklers.

At that point, the 'Dogs had run just three offensive plays in the contest, two of which resulted in points.

Four minutes later, Artesia was back in the end zone, as Galindo delivered his second TD run of the day, this time from 33 yards out. Derrick Warren found Trent Egeland for the conversion, and the Bulldogs took a 22-0 lead over Mayfield with 7:33 to go in the first half.

A high school football player in a black-and-orange uniform steps over the goal line just ahead of an opponent in a white-and-green uniform.
PICTURED: Izac Cazares hits the end zone to cap his 89-yard run.
(Photo Courtesy Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)

The Trojans had more success moving the ball against the Artesia D on their next possession, marching methodically to the Bulldog six. But from there, Haden Harcrow would intercept a Luke Linnan pass and return it to the home 28 to keep Mayfield off the board and ultimately set up the 'Dogs' next TD: a 13-yard pass from Cazares to Ethan Conn in the back of the end zone to make it 29-0.

The 'Dogs would carry that lead into the locker room, as a Linnan pass was once again intercepted -- this time by Edel Villa -- in the end zone as the clock ran out on the first half.

A high school football player in a black-and-orange uniform holds his arms straight out in front of him as he catches a football.
PICTURED: Ethan Conn brings in a 13-yard touchdown pass from Izac Cazares.
(Photo Courtesy Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)

The Trojans came out strong in the third quarter, recovering the opening onside kick to give themselves both the ball and a short field. It paid off, as Anthony Nevarez got past the Bulldog defense from the eight to end the shutout, 29-7. But it took the 'Dogs less than a minute to answer, as Cazares launched from 40 into the arms of a diving Trent Egeland to reinstate the 29-point lead, 36-7, with 8:19 on the clock.

Mayfield tried to go deep with time running out in the third quarter but once again found nothing but Harcrow, who returned the ball to Artesia at their own eight. And that gave the 'Dogs time to fit one more score into the penultimate period: an 18-yard pass from Cazares to Egeland that put the mercy-rule clock in motion, 43-7.

A high school football player in a black-and-orange uniform jumps and twists with his arms in the air as a football sails toward his hands.
PICTURED: Trent Egeland jumps to receive an 18-yard touchdown pass from Izac Cazares.
(Photo Courtesy Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)

The Bulldogs would make their final touchdown of the contest a big one, as back-up quarterback Derrick Warren pitched forward to Bryce Parra, who was off to the races, speeding 92 yards to paydirt just 16 seconds into the fourth. From there, the 'Dogs' second string continued to close out the semifinal, with the Trojans posting one final TD with 4:35 to go in the game on a 14-yard run by Justin Madrid.

With the win, the Bulldogs improved to 9-3 on the season as they charged headlong into the rematch the state has been waiting for. The top-ranked Coyotes defeated #4 Gadsden 49-21 Saturday. As was the case in 2023, Roswell High edged Artesia in district play, and the 'Dogs will be looking to turn the tables next weekend. This will be two-time defending 5A champion Artesia's fourth title-game appearance in as many years.

Kickoff has been set for 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, at Wool Bowl in Roswell. Tickets will be on sale soon at the NMAA's GoFan page.

SCORING SUMMARY

FIRST QUARTER
• Artesia - Frankie Galindo 75-run (Corbyn Dominguez kick good), 3:53
SECOND QUARTER
• Artesia - Izac Cazares 89-run (Dominguez kick good), 11:44
• Artesia - Galindo 33-run (Derrick Warren to Trent Egeland pass good), 7:33
• Artesia - Ethan Conn 13-pass from Cazares (Dominguez kick good), 1:21
THIRD QUARTER
• Mayfield - Anthony Nevarez 8-run (Jeffrey Dominguez kick good), 9:15
• Artesia - Trent Egeland 40-pass from Cazares (Dominguez kick good), 8:19
• Artesia - Egeland 18-pass from Cazares (Dominguez kick good), 1:46
FOURTH QUARTER
• Artesia - Bryce Parra 92-pass from Derrick Warren (Dominguez kick good), 11:44
• Mayfield - Justin Madrid 14-run (Jeffrey Dominguez kick good), 4:35